Our Leadership

Ziad Al Askari

Chief Executive Officer

Ziad is the Chief Executive Officer of United Technical Services (“UTS”), a company established in 1980. UTS currently represents over 30 international companies from many different business sectors including Oil & Gas, Air-conditioning & Building Systems, Facilities Management & Environmentally Friendly Business Solutions.

In 1997 he attained an Economics, History and International relations BA degree from Boston College, and holds an eMBA in entrepreneurship since 2008. He is the founder of Khaleejcom Trading, an internet and e-media services company that started what was globally the first site to stream online International Music.

Ziad served as Abu Dhabi Chapter Chair of the Young Presidents’ Organization between 2015-2017 a chapter he founded in 2010. He has also served on numerous private company boards and is at present Chairman of OCS Emirates a Facility Management Joint Venture, Chairman of 2Getthere Emirates an advanced transportation technology company Joint Venture both with UTS and a Director of both Takyeef Air-conditioning Factory and ROI-EFESO Consulting, a management and operations consulting company and a non-executive director of the UTS Carrier board.

Ziad enjoys running, reading, writing, alpine and water sports in his spare time.

John D’Souza

Chief Financial Officer

John D’Souza has 35 years experience with heavy focus on operation and financial processes of the company, joint ventures, investments etc. He started his career with Tessco in 1978 as Senior Accountant and then with UTS in 1981 as the Chief Accountant of a JV between UTS and Oiltools. In 2000, he was promoted to CFO of UTS and responsible for arranging financing for various projects. He has a Masters Degree in Commerce and Diploma in Financial Management from India. He is a certified Master Financial Controller and is a Member of American Academy of Financial Management.

Gerard Barabich

Sr. Vice President - Corporate

Gerard joined United Technical Services at the beginning of 2016 as Senior Vice President, Corporate Advisor to the Chairman and CEO. Gerard’s role is to review and advise in respect of UTS’s strategy, products, markets, services and organisational structure going forward. In addition Gerard undertakes specific assignments on behalf of the Chairman as required.

Gerard is a former Partner and Financial Services Leader of PricewaterhouseCoopers. He is a qualified Chartered Accountant with 35 years of experience, working in Central Africa originally and then the Middle East since 2002.

Gerard was the reporting and concurring Partner for PwC’s International and National mandates including Barclays Bank, RAKBank, Emirates Group and Dubai Holdings to name a few and was appointed Mentor to up and coming Emirati nationals in the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Leadership Development Programme.

Gerard has extensive experience, including corporate leadership and strategy, operational and financial management, commercial and risk management, internal and external audit oversight having previously held Group Finance Director and Manager Director positions. He is experienced and practiced in building high performing teams. His direct divisional reports have included: business planning and corporate strategy, human resources, information technology, finance, corporate administration, risk management, internal and external audit, tax and legal.

An effective and experienced executive, Gerard has the innate passion, drive and determination to implement positive change to large, complex organisations. He is hands-on, with a strong action and objective-focused approach.

Edward Geraghty

Manager - Human Resources

Edward Geraghty joined UTS as HR Manager in 2013 to develop the function and implement people strategies to enhance the company’s performance culture. He has over 25 years’ experience in a number of sectors both in Europe and the Middle East.

Edward has a BA in Political Economy and Geography from University College Dublin. He has obtained various certificates in both in HR and QHSE.

George Koshy

Manager - Technical Services

George Koshy joined UTS in 1995 as an Information technology consultant. He was later promoted to Technical Services Manager to manage the operations of the IT department. He provides technological guidance within the organization and has individually overseen the development and advancement of information systems and communications network for UTS and other subsidiaries. George has over 24 years of experience in handling various areas of information technology and communications. He is a key person in establishing and enabling the strategic and tactical goals of UTS and associated organizations.

George acquired a degree in Electronics and Communications Engineering from Mangalore University.

Shajimon Ragam

VP - Sales and Service

Shajimon Ragam joined UTS in 2007 as product manager to develop the water and marine sector business, part of the company’s energy services division. He has over 20 years’ experience with major EPC contractors in the region. His expertise in water and waste water treatment sectors was gained with various international companies. Mr. Ragam manages the UTS service center thereby ensuring that all off shore contracts are serviced to the highest quality.

Shajimon graduated in 1992 from Bangalore University with a Bachelor of Engineering specializing in Instrumentation and Control.

Husain Al Mansoori

VP - Business Development

Husain joined UTS mid 2023 as Vice President Business Development.

Husain’s focus is to formulate and implement a strategy for enhancing business opportunities and growth through current channels and developing new prospects across a broad spectrum of products and services. Husain started his career in UAE AF/AD in where he worked for 13 years as a Supervisor of Maintenance. He then joined Schlumberger as a Field Engineer and Drilling Engineer before moving to Baker Hughes in Operation Management. In total he has over 10 years’ experience in upstream oil and gas technical operations.

Husain received his degree in Applied Electronics in 2002 from the Technical Studies Institute, Sweihan, UAE.