Board of Directors
RAJESH SURANA (Chairman)
Rajesh Surana is a dynamic P&L leader with over 23 years of global experience in driving strategic growth, delivering turnaround success, and leading high-impact transformation across the construction and building materials industry. Currently serving as Region CFO for Asia, Middle East & Africa (AMEA) at Holcim Group, Rajesh leads finance, strategy, and M&A for a portfolio exceeding 4 billion CHF.
Previously, he served as Holcim Group’s Group Chief Procurement Officer, overseeing a global spend of 17 billion CHF across 60 countries and delivering record procurement savings. As Area Manager for East & South Africa, he led businesses across five countries, achieving record results and overseeing successful divestments.
Rajesh made a significant mark as CEO of Lafarge Holcim Bangladesh (Jan 2016– Feb 2023), where he spearheaded a remarkable turnaround, doubling EBITDA and leading the company to industry-best profitability in a challenging market.
Before his appointment as the CEO of Lafarge Holcim Bangladesh, Rajesh Surana held several key leadership roles within the Holcim Group. His previous positions included Chief Financial Officer of Holcim Sri Lanka, Chief Financial Officer of Holcim Services (South Asia), and Head of Finance at Holcim India. These roles equipped him with extensive experience in financial management and strategic planning across multiple markets in the South Asian region.
Rajesh is a Fellow Chartered Accountant, Company Secretary, and a graduate of Shri Ram College of Commerce, India. He has completed senior management programs from IMD Switzerland, HEC Paris, IVEY Canada, and the University of St. Gallen. He is an Indian citizen and Swiss resident.
MOHAMMAD IQBAL CHOWDHURY (Director)
Mr. Iqbal Chowdhury is the Director & Chief Executive Officer of the company who joined in July 2017 as CFO and was re-designated as Chief Operating Officer (COO) in December, 2022. He has over 22 years’ of diversified experience in Manufacturing and Marketing Industry covering FMCG & building materials. He is an accomplished professional with a proven record of success and intimate knowledge in the fields of Finance & Corporate Affairs. He has worked for several Multinational companies with remarkable success stories.
Prior to joining the Company, he worked in Marico Bangladesh, a FMCG listed company for 11 years, where he headed different portfolios including being CFO, Director-Finance & Company Secretary. Prior to that, he worked for Avery Dennison and Berger Paints Bangladesh. He was instrumental in the creation of two highest valued IPO of the country for Berger Paints and Marico Bangladesh.
As a young and dynamic sector leader, he has been part of many transformations in his career which has created the base for sustainable business growth. He is an MBA in Finance and also a Fellow member of Institute of Chartered Secretaries (ICSB) and leading Trade, Tariff, Taxation & Company Affairs Sub-Committee of FICCI (Foreign Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry), EC Member of Switzerland – Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SBCCI) and a founder member of Intellectual Property Association of Bangladesh (IPAB).
TAREK SAMIR AHMED ELBA (Director)
Mr. Tarek Samir Ahmed Elba is the Executive Vice President of Africa & Asia and member of the Executive Committee of Molins Group.
Mr. Elba has more than 30 years of experience in General Management and different commercial activities like sales, marketing, international trade, customer service, and business development in both Cement and Steel industries.
Mr. Elba Joined Molins Group in October 2015 as CEO of Molins Tunisia which consists of two companies, the first one is Sotacib producing white cement, and Sotacib Kairouan producing gray cement in which he managed to implement turnaround strategy in both companies resulting in significant improvement of performance and profitability in a complex business environment.
Before Joining Molins Group Mr. Elba held several leadership positions in LafargeHolcim Group including the position of CEO at LafargeHolcim Bangladesh PLC. He also held several other key positions in multinational companies like Mitsui and Orascom Construction Industries.
Mr. Elba started his professional career in 1991 as a maintenance engineer at Alexandria National Iron & Steel Co. In 1992 he moved to the field of international trade of steel products with Mitsui & Co. Ltd. After that in 1996 he moved to the field of pre-engineered steel building with Zamil Steel Co. Ltd.
Mr. Elba holds B.Sc. in Production Engineering from Faculty of Engineering, Alexandria University and an MBA from the graduate school of Business, Arab Academy for Science, Technology & Maritime Transport.
GEORGE CHACKO (Director)
Mr. George Chacko joined in his present position as Director – Corporate Affairs of Lafarge Umiam Mining Private Ltd, the 100% subsidiary of Lafarge Holcim Bangladesh during November 2022.
He has more than 35 years of extensive work experience in Mining & Cement Plants in India heading various functions like Sales & Marketing, Corporate Communications, CSR, Green field Projects and the last 10 years as Head of Corporate Affairs at Dalmia Cement Bharat Ltd, Assam, India.
He is a graduate of St Edmund’s College, Shillong.
KAZI MIZANUR RAHMAN (Director)
Mr. Kazi Mizanur Rahman joined the Company in 2004. He strives to drive the Company to achieve its strategic goals in full compliance with applicable laws and company policies. His role includes devising the legal strategy, and implementing the world class corporate governance standards in a dynamic regulatory environment. He has over 26 years’ experience as in-house corporate lawyer including 18 years with the Company.
Earlier, he worked in the Legal Departments of various Oil & Gas companies and FMCG companies, including Head of Legal of Shell Bangladesh Exploration & Development B.V. An Advocate registered with Bangladesh Bar Council, he obtained his LL.B. (Honours) and LL.M, from the University of Dhaka.
He is a Chevening Scholar who completed the Commonwealth Young Lawyers Course organized from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London and also completed professional courses on contract negotiation and dispute resolution in University of Dundee, Scotland, UK.
AMITAV SINGH (Director)
Mr. Amitav Singh is the Industrial Director of the Company who has joined in June, 2023. He has 26 years of experience in building material manufacturing industry. Prior joining to LHBL, Mr. Singh worked for ACC Ltd. (Gagal Cement Works – Himachal Pradesh) as Plant Director. Furthermore, Mr. Singh has garnered extensive leadership experience through his tenure in various leadership positions spanning over 15 years at ACC Ltd. His professional journey includes serving as a Technical Adviser at Aljouf Cement, Saudi Arabia, from 2011 to 2012.