Gasal Board of Directors

Khaled Ali Al-Ansari, Chairman of the Board, Gasal

Khaled Ali Al-Ansari currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of Gasal, bringing over 34 years of extensive experience in the oil and gas industry. His career spans hands on, as well as leadership roles at QatarEnergy (formerly Qatar Petroleum), where he specialised in managing hydrocarbon development projects and led diverse teams focused on oil and gas development projects.

Before his appointment at Gasal, Khaled was responsible for the strategic planning, redevelopment and management of QatarEnergy's operated onshore oil fields, driving initiatives to maximise economic recovery while ensuring efficient reservoir management, monitoring and reporting of developed reserves and discovering undeveloped hydrocarbon reserves. In these roles, his leadership has been pivotal in leading multidisciplinary teams across multiple business units.

Khaled also brings significant boardroom experience, having contributed to several key decision-making processes in energy and industrial sectors.

He holds a BSc in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Vice-Chairman

Mohammed Khalid Mohammed Al-Buainain, Board Director , Gasal

Mohammed Al Buainain is a Member of the Board of Directors of Gasal and a distinguished finance executive with over 14 years of extensive international experience in accounting and financial advisory within the oil and gas sector. Throughout his career he has held executive management roles, overseeing financial operations across all marketing-managed entities and representing QatarEnergy Group on various Boards and Executive Committees.

He has a proven track record in establishing finance functions, implementing accounting systems, and enhancing financial controls and governance, along with expertise in IFRS reporting and financial modelling.

Mohammed holds a BSc in Accounting and Finance from the University of Liverpool, an MBA from Bolton University, UK, and is a Certified National Leader through the Qatar Leadership Centre. 

Aktham Yousef Al Baqali, Board Director, Gasal
Since 2008 he is handling QIMC Group’s Operation Function by providing leadership to all aspects of financial stewardship, budgeting, financial analysis, resource procurement, operational analysis. Responsible for all financial, administration and HR matters including banking relations, cash management, insurance, accounting, budgeting & forecasting and selection of company's group health insurance plan, enforce accounting policies and procedures to ensure efficiency.

After his graduation, Aktham Yousef M.J. Al-Baqali joined Qatar’s Ministry of Economy & Commerce as a Financial Researcher. Until date, Aktham Al-Baqali held several major business positions and he is an esteemed Chairman and Board Director in much successful companies; Qatar Acids Company, National Paper Industries Co. Gulf Formaldehyde Co. Qatar Aluminium Extrusion Co. (QALEX), Tarweej (QIMC’s Real Estate Directorate), Gulf Glass Factory (Zujaj), United Chemicals Co (UC), National Food Co (NAFCO)

Mathieu Français, Board Director, Gasal

Mathieu Français joined Air Liquide in 1999 and currently serves as Vice President Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and CEO of Air Liquide Regional Headquarters (RHQ) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In this role, he oversees operations across Air Liquide subsidiaries in the GCC and Kazakhstan.

With over 25 years of international experience in the chemical industry, Mathieu has held various senior leadership roles within the Group, gaining expertise in executive management, global operations, and large-scale project delivery. His career reflects a strong focus on driving growth, operational excellence, marketing and strategic innovation across complex business environments.

Mathieu holds a Master’s Degree in Industrial Engineering & Management from Grenoble INP-UGA, France, and an Engineering Degree from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany.

Laurent Valentin, Board Director, Gasal

Laurent Valentin currently serves as Group Corporate Finance Vice President for the Air Liquide Group, overseeing the financing of operations and investments across more than 60 countries. In this role, Laurent is responsible for managing the group’s financial strategies, including country and counterparty risk management, through a centralised team in France and regional centres in Houston, USA, and Shanghai, China.

Laurent began his career in banking with JP Morgan Chase before joining General Electric Capital in 2000, where he held senior roles, including Head of Project and Export Finance for the Europe, Middle East, and Africa region and Global Leader for project financing partnerships. He joined Air Liquide in 2020 as Director of Structured Finance, contributing significantly to the group’s financial strategy.

French national Laurent holds an MBA from the University of Hartford, USA.

Monica Varagnat, Board Director, Gasal

Monica Varagnat was appointed to the Gasal Board of Directors in 2023 bringing decades of business development and commercial management expertise to Gasal.

Monica began her career as an R&D Project Manager at ArcelorMittal before joining Air Liquide in 2011 as an Industrial Project Manager for the Large Industry business line.

She held various positions in Business Development and Commercial Management in France, managing a commercial portfolio with an annual turnover of approximately €500 million as Commercial Director and leading an investment portfolio of energy transition projects of more than €1 billion. In 2022, she moved to the Group Head Office to help shape the Group's strategic vision. Since July 2023, she has been Vice President of the Large Industries Business Line for the Africa, Middle-East, and India HUB.

She is a graduate of Ecole Polytechnique (Paris, France) and holds a Master of Science in Engineering from the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, USA).

Ali Aboubakar Elghadi has served as the Board Secretary and Finance Manager of Gasal since its establishment where he has played a key role in the company’s growth and operations.

Prior to joining Gasal, in 1994 Ali relocated to Qatar, where he initially joined the finance department and later became a trading manager for several reputable companies in the country. In 2000, he joined Qatar Nitrogen Company, a joint venture between QatarEnergy (formerly Qatar Petroleum) and QIMC, as Board Secretary before transitioning to Gasal in 2006. Ali is known for his expertise in financial governance and strategic planning, contributing to Gasal's financial stability.

He holds a B.Sc. (Honors) in Economics from the University of Gezira, Sudan and a Master’s Degree in Planning from the University of Khartoum.