(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Saleem al-Yafei is the first Qatari to take up a full-time role at Maersk Oil's headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark, as an increasing number of nationals work for the company in senior and technical roles.
He arrived for the two-year contract as global head of maintenance discipline in 2014.
Al-Yafei was already an experienced mechanical engineer when he joined Maersk Oil Qatar in 2012, having previously worked for Oryx GTL. His initial role was in maintenance as senior integrity and reliability engineer, and he quickly progressed to become the deputy director of the integrity and reliability department before seizing the opportunity to move to the Maersk Oil headquarters.
"Adjusting to the new surroundings hasn't been too difficult, but being away from family is not easy. Nevertheless, when you look at the career development and the advantages, you tend to make some compromises," said al-Yafei, thinking of his wife and four children back in Doha.
Al-Yafei smiles as he looks out over a rare spot of early spring Copenhagen sunshine and considers when he might best introduce his family to the city he is starting to call home. "The plan is to bring them here in the summertime."
Maersk Oil's employees come from around the world and its Qatari workforce reflects an aim to help build global experience and international learning by offering opportunities in different locations, encouraging
diversity, according to a statement.
Copenhagen was important for al-Yafei because it is the global headquarters and his new role encompasses Maersk Oil's business units around the world. This gives a different global perspective than that he would see from Doha, or any other Maersk Oil office, the statement notes.
"I will definitely return to Qatar with a better understanding of how operations and maintenance works across Maersk Oil. I would then utilise this knowledge to position Maersk Oil Qatar for the future. I'm sure that I will be better qualified when I go back."
The company needs the support and commitment of experienced Qatari and expatriate staff at all levels to develop and train nationals.
"Employees like Saleem, who have been on assignment outside the country, offer a good example of the opportunities and add more expertise and perspective when they return," said Sheikh Jassim bin Saud al-Thani, Maersk Oil's head of Qatarisation.
he number of Qatari employees has doubled in the last five years as Maersk Oil has implemented a comprehensive Qatarisation plan, and those with a bachelor's degree have increased. "Maersk Oil aims to develop Qataris into the leaders of tomorrow by offering real jobs with real responsibility," added Sheikh Jassim. About a quarter of Maersk Oil's employees in the country are Qatari nationals, half of whom work in technical fields.
"We are constantly looking for new ways to develop our people and provide opportunities for them to gain new skills to allow them to take on more responsibility, either as managers or specialists," he stressed.
The benefits are already clear for al-Yafei, who looks forward to introducing his family to new experiences in Denmark. "I am the first Qatari to come to Copenhagen on a full-time basis, but there are a few who would like to follow."
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