After managing the Middle East markets since he joined the company in 1995, Charles Smith is handling over his responsibility to Mohamed Gdhami from April 2009.

Over these 13 years Charles ("Mr. UPP" in the Gulf states) has seen the market for PetroTechnik's UPP fuel pipe expand from under 40 to over 140 countries and the number of PetroTechnik offices grow from just 2 to 8.

Mohamed joined PetroTechnik in January 2009. He started working at SAGEM in 2000, and then held various positions within PECHINEY & ALCAN where he was first introduced to the extrusion of HDPE. He then moved to Air Marrel where he was in charge of North Africa, the Middle East region, Turkey and Pakistan and sold airport equipment to international airlines and ground handling companies.

Mohamed is a graduate engineer fluent in Arabic as well as English, Italian and French. Mohamed, who has lived in Tunisia and Italy, is now based in the PetroTechnik France offices just outside Paris.

"His greater knowledge of the local language and culture will be an asset to PetroTechnik Ltd as we strive to serve an ever increasing demand for fuel storage and transport systems in the area" said Charles.

Pictured in the PetroTechnik conference room in Ipswich, Charles (L) greets Mohamed (R)