Coldstores Group of Saudi Arabia | Annual Report 2025/26

Peter Faerber

Chief Executive Officer

(from 2018 to April 2026)*

Age: 63 years

Nationality: Swiss

Date of appointment:
1 February 2018

Peter Faerber

Chief Executive Officer

(from 2018 to April 2026)

Academic qualifications

Notable professional experience

BSc in Economics and Business Administration, University of Applied Sciences, Switzerland (1992)
Federal advanced diploma of higher education in air conditioning and refrigeration systems engineering, Higher Vocational College, Switzerland (1988)
Federal diploma of vocational education and training in heating systems engineering, Vocational College, Switzerland (1982)

Regional Director – Middle East and Africa, Mungo Fastening Technology, a UAE limited liability company in building materials (2012–2015)
Group General Manager – Door Automation Division, Kaba Door Systems Ltd, a UK public company in control systems (2004–2012)
Transformation Manager, Kaba Holding AG, a Swiss public company in control systems (2001–2004)
Product and International Project Manager (1992–1994); Product Manager (1994–1996); Sales Representative – Orléans (1996–1998); Sales Manager – Arkansas and West Tennessee (1998–2000); Marketing Director – Benelux (2000–2001), Hilti, a global publicly listed company in construction tools and materials
Building Automation Project Manager, Robert Aerni Engineering Ltd, a Swiss limited liability company in engineering (1982–1989)

* Peter Faerber served as Chief Executive Officer for the duration of the reporting period, retiring effective 30 April 2026, following the end of the fiscal year. Ruban Bilen was appointed as Chief Executive Officer effective 1 May 2026.

Ruban Bilen

Chief Executive Officer

(from May 2026; CFO: June 2024 to April 2026)*

Age: 49 years

Nationality: Canadian

Date of appointment:
2 June 2024

Ruban Bilen

Chief Executive Officer

(from May 2026)

Academic qualifications

Notable professional experience

BCom in Commerce, McMaster University, Canada, 1999

Regional Chief Financial Officer – Middle East and Africa, KONE, a company in vertical transportation solutions (2016–2023)
Chief Financial Officer – Canada, KONE, a company in vertical transportation solutions (2013–2016)
Vice President of Operations (2012–2013); Senior Finance Manager – Global Business Lines (2009–2012); Senior Finance Manager – Integration (2008–2009), AECOM Technology, a company in engineering consulting
Finance Manager – Global Financial Planning and Analysis (2006–2008); Senior Finance Manager (2004–2006); Senior Financial Analyst (2003–2004), Earthtech Inc, a company in engineering consulting
Commercial Finance Manager (2001–2003); Financial Analyst – Financial Management Program (1999–2001), General Electric, a company in water treatment

* Ruban Bilen served as Chief Financial Officer throughout the year under review and was appointed as Chief Executive Officer effective 1 May 2026, subsequent to the retirement of Peter Faerber following the end of the reporting period.

Amit Lahoti

Chief Financial Officer

(from May 2026)*

Age: 45 years

Nationality: British

Date of appointment:
17 May 2026

Amit Lahoti

Chief Financial Officer

(from May 2026)

Academic qualifications

Notable professional experience

Harvard Business School, US – General Management Programme (2019)
Chartered Accountant (ACA), The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (2003)
B.Com (Honours), University of Calcutta, India (2002)

Vice President and Regional General Manager, South-East Asia, Amcor (2023–2025)
Vice President and General Manager, Asia, Ball Corporation (2017–2023)
Vice President, Finance and Strategy – Africa, Middle East and Asia, Ball Corporation (2014–2017)
Several finance leadership roles across Europe, the Middle East and Asia, Ball Corporation (2010–2014)
Various roles in assurance and financial consulting, Deloitte, the UK and the UAE (2004–2010)
Associate, PricewaterhouseCoopers, India (2000–2003)

* Amit Lahoti was appointed Chief Financial Officer subsequent to the reporting period (FY26) on 17 May 2026

Helmi Hussein

General Manager – Engineering and Production

Age: 58 years

Nationality: Palestinian

Date of appointment:
1 April 2001

Helmi Hussein

General Manager – Engineering and Production

Feras Al-Jumaa

General Manager – Human Resources

Age: 38 years

Nationality: Saudi

Date of appointment: 15 March 2015

Feras Al-Jumaa

General Manager – Human Resources

Tomas Quinn

General Manager – Sales

Age: 47 years

Nationality: Irish

Date of appointment:
20 September 2010

Tomas Quinn

General Manager – Sales

Academic qualifications

Notable professional experience

Diploma in heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration engineering, Technological University, Ireland (1999)

Director – Dammam and Bahrain Branch and Carrier Division (2016–2018); Manager – Riyadh Workshop and Carrier Division (2010–2016), Cold Stores Group of Saudi Arabia, a Saudi limited liability company in industrial and refrigeration
Owner and Managing Director, I.C. Refrigeration, a Spanish limited liability company in refrigeration (2005–2010)
Sales Manager (2002–2005); Workshop Manager (2000–2002), Abbar, a Saudi limited liability company in refrigeration
Refrigeration Engineer, Ballinlough, an Irish limited liability company in refrigeration (1996–2000)

Jalal Ali Mahmoud Alfar

General Manager – Refrigeration

Age: 48 years

Nationality: Jordanian

Date of appointment:
7 January 2020

Jalal Ali Mahmoud Alfar

General Manager – Refrigeration

Academic qualifications

Notable professional experience

BSc in Mechanical Engineering, Mutah University, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (2000)

General Manager, Gia Grid, an Egyptian limited liability company in refrigeration (2011–2020)
Technical Manager, Fresh Fruits Company, a UAE limited liability company in fruit supply (2008–2011)
Technical Manager, Sameer Al Jabali & Bros Co., a Jordanian limited liability company in fruit supply (2006–2008)
Technical Manager, International Tobacco Company, a UAE limited liability company in tobacco (2004–2006)
Maintenance Engineer, International Tobacco Cigarettes Company, a Jordanian public joint stock company in tobacco (2000–2004)
Marketing Engineer, Almaaden Trading & Marketing Est., a Jordanian sole proprietorship in supply (2000)

Andrew Peter Wilson

Vice President – Operations

Age: 58 years

Nationality: British

Date of appointment:
26 June 2022

Andrew Wilson

Vice President – Operations

Academic qualifications

Notable professional experience

BBA, Bridgewater College, UK, (2008)
BA in Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Somerset College of Agriculture, UK (1985)

General Manager – Automotive Division, Consolidated Grünenfelder Saady Company, a Saudi single shareholder limited liability company in industrial and refrigeration (2022–2024)
General Manager, Al Mana Car Rental – Enterprise, a Qatari limited liability company in automotive (2013–2022)
Technical Manager, Mahmood Saleh Abbar Co., a Saudi limited liability company in industrial equipment (2010–2013)
Operations Manager, Aspen Design Services, a UK limited liability company in commercial catering equipment (2005–2010)
Regional Sales and Services Manager, Thermo King, a US-UAE company in industrial equipment (1997–2005)
Service and Training Manager, Carrier, a Saudi-UAE company in industrial equipment (1990–1994)

Muhammad Javed
Manzoor Ahmad

Internal Audit Manager

Age: 40 years

Nationality: Pakistani

Date of appointment:
5 October 2025

Muhammad Javed
Manzoor Ahmad

Internal Audit Manager

Academic qualifications

Notable professional experience

CME-1 certificate, Financial Academy, Securities and Investment Institute (2024)
Governance, Risk, and Compliance Professional (GRCPA) certificate, Open Compliance and Ethics Group (2024)
Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) certificate, Institute of Internal Auditors, USA (2024)
Membership, Saudi Organization for Certified Public Accountants (2014)
Fellowship, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan (2012)
Bachelor’s degree in Economics, University of Punjab, Pakistan (2003)

Head of Governance, Risk, and Compliance, Fourth Milling Company, a Saudi listed joint stock company in flour and derivatives production and feed (2024–2025)
Chief Audit and Governance Executive, Al Hoshan Limited, a Saudi limited liability company in office solutions (2020–2024)
Chief Internal Audit Executive, Leejam Sports Company, a Saudi listed joint stock company in sports clubs and fitness (2018–2020)
Financial Compliance Team Manager, Arabian Paper Manufacturing Company, a Saudi closed joint stock company in paper and cardboard manufacturing (2017–2018)
Internal Audit Manager, Arabian Pipes Company, a Saudi listed joint stock company in pipe manufacturing (2015–2017)
Internal Audit Manager, Mahmood Textile Mills Limited, a Pakistani listed joint stock company in textile manufacturing (2010–2015)
External Auditor, Ernst & Young Professional Services, a Saudi limited liability company in accounting, financial auditing, and consulting (2006–2010)

Accessibility

Bigger Text

Reading Mask

Highlight Links

Invert Colors

Big Cursor

My Report

Corporate governance

Executive Management

Peter Faerber

Ruban Bilen

Amit Lahoti

Helmi Hussein

Feras Al-Jumaa

Tomas Quinn

Jalal Ali Mahmoud Alfar

Andrew Wilson

Muhammad Javed
Manzoor Ahmad

Corporate governance

Executive Management

Peter Faerber

Ruban Bilen

Amit Lahoti

Helmi Hussein

Feras Al-Jumaa

Tomas Quinn

Jalal Ali Mahmoud Alfar

Andrew Wilson

Muhammad Javed Manzoor Ahmad

Muhammad Javed
Manzoor Ahmad