Mian Imtiazuddin / Marketing Manager

•    What is your position in GDI, and how long have you been working at the company? 

I am now the Marketing Manager. I joined GDI three Years ago, where the first two years I worked as Technical Advisor and one year now as Marketing Manager.

•  Can you give us an idea about your educational and professional background? 

I am a graduate Electrical Engineer from Peshawar University in Pakistan, majored in Electrical Engineering. My first job was in January 1973 at an Oil Company in the drilling department. I spent four and a half years in Pakistan with the Attock Oil Company, then 16 years with National Drilling Company of Abu Dhabi. After that I spent 11 years consulting in the upstream industry till I joined GDI in January 2007. 

• What is your normal working day like? 

Never a dull moment. We start at 7am and I hardly ever get home before 6pm.  It is mostly internal meetings, reports and contacts with vendors, suppliers and potential clients. We meet clients frequently

 for marketing and other purposes, in addition to the putting some efforts into the business development side of work.

• What are the main challenges that you face with your job? 

Getting my view point across and getting that change implemented. There is a tremendous growth potential, though stunted by present market conditions, but the Qatar market and GDI have all the ingredients to be a major player in the upstream market.

• What keeps you enthusiastic about your career? 

I love what I do. I really enjoy being in GDI and Doha. I have deep respect for and enjoy working with the people I am working with. I feel I bring value to the job. 

• What do you enjoy the most in your work tasks? 

Introducing new ideas to improve efficiency, performance and free-up resources. Facing fresh challenges that emerge from the changing technology. There are many new products coming to market and the application of high tech solutions is increasing in the drilling industry.

• What are the main things that have changed at GDI ever since you joined? 

Many things have developed since I joined in. GDI was employing a high degree of contractor manpower. That has been reduced to 10%-15%, from a percentage of almost 50%. KPI’s are now built into the annual targets every year accompanied by a balanced score card report weekly.

GDI is seriously pursuing diversification in their core business, in addition to being prequalified outside Qatar. Inventory management is being rationalized, and focus has shifted from Engineering to Maintenance, improving non-productive operating time. Computerized maintenance management systems are being implemented, which will enhance efficiency further. Also better interaction with clients, tuning our proposals to clients taking their needs into account. 

• What are your hopes on the personal & professional level now that we are starting 2010? 

This is going to be a challenging year. The rig count in Qatar is declining; Hungry competitors are drastically discounting their day rates. Competition is going to be cut-throat. We have some projects on the burners. If they come to fruition, we will sustain the adverse market outlook.  There is a lot to do and a lot to hope for. 

• How has GDI’s image developed throughout the years? 

GDI is now recognized as a major player in the Qatar market. We are setting-up alliances on the regional level.  We have achieved stability through successes in safety, reducing non-productive time and becoming more efficient. As a result GDI is treated and regarded as a serious professional entity. 

• What are the most important characters/aspects of GDI that the marketing team tries to convey through all their work? 

Due to the fact that GDI is small and young (just 5 years old), we have the room and the potential to grow. Drilling is a cyclical industry and if we hold our heads above water during this low cycle we will cash-in when the activity and day rates start to rise. We want clients to know that we are here for the long term. GDI will provide customised solutions to client’s needs based on long term relationships.

We feel there is need for such solutions and the market does not offer enough ready- made products that are perfect fits. Also, we are not overly bound by hedging our equipment specs towards global application and therefore can concentrate of local needs. GDI is a reliable, safe and a good performer with a good product mix that is keen to diversify. GDI will always be in Qatar, no matter how international it becomes.