Board Of Directors

Malcom Brown (Non-Executive Chairman)

Malcolm Brown, 63 years of age, is a UK national with a background as an analyst and corporate finance adviser. He has significant experience with the European building materials sector and has been involved in a number of cement related transactions. Mr Brown worked with HSBC Investment Bank and its predecessor James Capel for 34 years as a director, senior analyst and adviser until his retirement in 2006. The research output, supported by a strong specialist sales team, enabled James Capel and subsequent to its purchase, by HSBC, to establish a leading position in the building material and construction sector in both the primary and the secondary market. This was reflected in the external poll ratings and the expanded number of corporate brokerships.

Some of the mandates in which Mr Brown was actively involved included the privatisation of the cement industry in Serbia and those in Algeria. In the former case, following the cessation of hostilities it was decided in 2001 that the three plants Beocin, Novi Popovac and Kosjeric should be sold and following a successful competitive auction, which was fast-tracked these were acquired by Lafarge, Holcim and Titan respectively. In Algeria HSBC won the mandate to advise the government on the sale of its cement assets and it was decided to prepare three out of the twelve plants for auction. Regrettably, although this had proceeded a long way, even to soliciting offers from international cement groups, the government withdrew at the eleventh hour in the face of strong union opposition.

Whilst at HSBC Mr Brown was also engaged to find acquisitions on the Indian sub-continent for Holcim (Switzerland), Cimpor (Portugal) and Votorantim (Brazil). He has also worked with Vicat and Ciments Francais on opportunities in Egypt. Mr Brown is currently the Managing Director of a small consultancy business, Carbery Cement Consultants, which provides strategic advice to mid cap, familycontrolled businesses in the cement industry.

Javier Del Ser Perez (Chief Executive Officer)

Javier del Ser Perez 45, is a Chartered Engineer (Spain), master in Structural Engineering and has a degree in Finance from HEC. Javier has lived in Kazakhstan since 1996, when he was appointed as the Investment Adviser to a large investment fund focused on the country. It was through this role that Javier first became involved with the Group’s cement business. He is the Chairman of the Company’s operating subsidiaries, Central Asia Cement and Karcement. Javier has other business interests in Kazakhstan, including being a Director and large shareholder in the Chagala Group. Javier is also a Director of Steppe Cement Holding B.V. and Mechanical and Electrical Consulting Services Ltd.

Paul Rodzianko (Non-Executive Director)

Paul Rodzianko, 65, is an international business executive with extensive experience in the energy, infrastructure and green technology sectors. He serves as Chairman or Independent Director of several emerging companies. He volunteers as Chairman of the Hermitage Museum Foundation. In addition, he serves on the boards of the US-Russia Business Council, the Kennan Council of the Woodrow Wilson International Center, the International Tax & Investment Center, the American-Russian Cultural Cooperation Foundation. He was previously director and vice-chairman of the US-Kazakhstan Business Association and member of the board of Energibolaget i Sverige (Sweden). He has served in senior executive capacities at Access Industries, Bogatyr Access Komir (Kazakhstan), the General Electric Company, Grace Geothermal Corporation, GreenFuel Technologies Corporation, CNPC-Aktobemunaigas (Kazakhstan), Sterling Grace & Co., Tyumen Oil Company (Russia), DataPort at the World Trade Center, and Mt. Hope Hydro. Paul holds a B.A. from Princeton University and an M.A. from the Institute of Critical Languages. He is a Fellow of The Explorers Club and the Royal Geographic Society.