Our Leadership Team
Gautam Ramdas
Vice President of Global Market Development
With over a decade of experience, Gautam oversees the global growth of Zerust’s corrosion management solutions, leveraging his background as an engineer to tackle practical challenges for Oil & Gas clients. His hands-on approach has taken him to offshore platforms, tank roofs, and pipeline corridors, helping clients identify corrosion issues and implement cost-effective, long-term solutions. Gautam also holds corrosion mitigation patents and leads multiple R&D teams to support complex projects worldwide.
Before joining Zerust, Gautam was a consultant for Fortune 500 companies, streamlining supply chains and introducing new process improvements. His MBA from the University of Michigan further equips him to ensure clients receive maximum ROI on their solutions. Gautam works closely with contractors and distributors, offering tailored inhibitor-based solutions for Upstream, Midstream, and Downstream sectors.
Kelly Baker
Senior Business Development Manager USA/Canada
Kelly Baker has 15 years of experience providing corrosion protection for storage tanks across North America. His current focus is on tank and pipeline applications, but his expertise extends internationally, allowing him to address corrosion challenges worldwide. He excels in designing standard tank bottom, roof, and pipe casing applications with precision, while also developing tailored VCI solutions for more complex asset designs.
With a deep understanding of client-specific corrosion concerns, Kelly specializes in creating systems that enhance the longevity of steel assets. His expertise spans the Upstream, Midstream, and Downstream sectors of the Oil & Gas industry, providing clients with long-term protection for their most critical infrastructure.
Derek Dickens
BUSINESS Development MANAGER - NORTH AMERICA & CANADA
Derek Dickens brings over 12 years of experience in the industry. He specializes in designing corrosion prevention solutions for clients in the United States and Canada. Derek’s expertise is in developing Storage Tank and Pipeline applications. His expertise covers asset management, maintenance, layup, casings, mothballing, and hydrotesting as well as pipeline, equipment, and parts preservation. He is also a specialist with our new Ziftape product line. Derek is able to work within refineries, tank farms, terminals and pipelines. Derek is very active in AMPP, API, NISTM, Pipeliners and many other organizations.
Whether you operate in the Upstream, Midstream or Downstream sectors, Derek can provide tailored solutions to extend the life of your critical assets.
Kristian Hovring
Business Development Manager Europe Region
Kristian brings a wealth of expertise in preservation specification and building work packages, boasting over a decade of experience in corrosion protection within the oil and gas industry. His extensive background spans from serving major clients in sales to adeptly managing projects. Recognizing the critical significance of corrosion protection, Kristian consistently strives to identify optimal solutions for clients. His track record includes successfully overseeing the stacking of over 30 rigs in lay-up and spearheading substantial spare part preservation programs.
Ruslan Jafarov
Regional Sales Manager / Caspian Region
Ruslan possesses a wealth of expertise with over a decade of offshore and onshore experience in the Oil & Gas Industry. He boasts more than eight years of Team Leader experience, spanning Construction, Tank Inspection Overhaul Program, Asset Rationalization, Field surveying activities, and HSE. Ruslan's adeptness extends to managing craft labor across various disciplines such as Civils, Mechanical, Piping, and more. His skill set includes the supervision of TAR (Shutdown) projects and the ability to foster and sustain effective relationships with engineering and surveying personnel, colleagues, and contractors.
With five years of experience in providing corrosion protection for Storage Tanks in the Caspian Region, Ruslan's current focus centers on tank applications in Azerbaijan, with involvement in multiple countries worldwide. He excels in designing and proposing standard tank bottom, tank roof, and roof legs applications with precision and speed. Additionally, he's well-equipped to address less common asset designs using VCIs in most scenarios.
In his role, Ruslan spearheads the growth of the Zerust brand of corrosion mitigating solutions in the Caspian Region. Leveraging his engineering background, he tackles practical problem-solving with clients. Ruslan's extensive fieldwork spans offshore, onshore, and pipeline corridors, where he aids clients in problem identification and the selection of cost-effective, long-term solutions.
Before joining NTIC/Zerust, Ruslan achieved success as a Team Leader working with BP. In this capacity, he streamlined supply chains and introduced cutting-edge technologies to enhance processes and drive improvements.
Philip Horsford
General Manager; MENA, CIS & APAC
Philip has a diverse background in consultancy, data science, chemical distribution, and field services. He has worked within the field of Asset Integrity for almost two decades with experience across Oil, Gas & Chemicals, Metals & Mining, Power & Utilities and Renewable sectors having worked, lived and studied in Asia Pacific, Middle East, UK, Europe and Africa.
Focused on preservation management and corrosion control, Philip has had broad exposure across the asset life cycle including developing corrosion management solutions for pre-comm, idle, mothballed and decommissioned assets.
This is complemented by a notable track record in delivering equipment preservation, modular and stick built preservation programs, whilst pioneering the adoption of soil-side corrosion for aboveground storage tanks in the Middle East and Asia, developing preservation philosophies for FPSO’s, FLNG and FSRU’s and delivering rig stacking projects globally.
Parag Aloni
Regional Sales Manager India, Middle East, IN-ME-NA
Parag Aloni is a highly experienced Chemical Engineer with a career spanning over 16 years. His expertise covers a wide spectrum of activities, including commissioning, proposal development, cost estimation, business development, customer acquisition, technological advancements, emerging market expansion, and key account management. Parag's industry knowledge extends to process technology, engineering, automation, and associated professional services. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering and an MBA in Oil & Gas Management.
In his most recent role, Parag served as the leader for the Zerust Oil & Gas brand in the Indian region for the past five years, successfully driving the growth of Zerust's corrosion mitigation solutions with major OMCs and EPC companies. Prior to this, he worked in EPC Sales, collaborating with prominent OMCs, EPCMs, and industries such as Ethanol & Biofuel, Renewable Energy, and Conservation.
Beyond his professional achievements, Parag enjoys pursuits such as cycling, practicing yoga, reading books, and indulging in music.
Kevin Yates
Regional Sales Manager / Middle East
Kevin brings over a decade of expertise in corrosion inhibitors, with experience spanning the oil and gas, manufacturing, automotive, marine, and other sectors. His deep understanding of these diverse industries allows him to effectively support distributors and clients in meeting their preservation needs. Before joining Zerust, Kevin built a strong foundation in the lubricant, industrial manufacturing, and chemical sectors, which broadened his perspective on the challenges clients face beyond corrosion prevention.
Kevin focuses on supporting the Zerust distribution network and existing clients with preservation, and specification of the correct inhibitors, by creating bespoke solutions and ultimately expanding Zerust’s presence and ability to support clients in the Middle East.
Shades K. Bhas
Regional Sales Manager - Singapore
Shades K. Bhas is a highly results-oriented individual committed to delivering business excellence while supporting both operational and strategic management goals. He has extensive experience in the Oil and Gas industry, with a primary focus on the Upstream business market segment.
With a diverse background spanning specialty seal manufacturing, pressure pumping and control equipment, rig inspections, and the VCI industry, Shades has developed a broad knowledge base. His expertise in consultative sales, project management, and working with a wide range of clients has sharpened his skills and business acumen. He has worked across multiple countries, including Southeast Asia, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Australia.
Shades has engaged with clients on various projects at construction yards, fabrication yards, shipyards, rig companies, EPCs, and FPSO companies. His understanding of entire processes has given him valuable insights into new construction, modular construction, electronic/electrical equipment, Ehouses, piping, rig stacking, and mothballing.
