The Zenova Team

Home > About >

Team

Board of Directors

Don Nicolson

Non-Executive Chairman

Don Nicolson

Non-Executive Chairman

Don is a senior business leader with more than 35 years’ experience in a range of business sectors, both UK and internationally, including oil, gas and natural stone. During this time, he has held multiple board roles, executive and non-executive, in both publicly listed and private companies. Don spent 26 years at BP where senior roles included Director North Sea where he was accountable for a multi-billion US dollar turnover and workforce of c.2000; Chief of Staff to BP’s CEO (E&P); Vice President BP Alaska and Vice President BP Canada. Recent roles included Chairman and interim CEO for Levantina Natural Stone Company headquartered in Spain and E&P Advisory Board member for SSE plc, a FTSE 100 company. He is currently an Independent Non Executive Director for Scirocco Energy plc and a Senior Advisor to AIM listed Fox Marble Holdings plc.

Fiona Rodford

Executive Vice-Chairperson

Fiona Rodford

Executive Vice-Chairperson

Fiona is a People and Transformation Director with extensive experience of business transformation in both public and private organisations across a wide range of sectors such as Retail, Banking and Manufacturing. She has successfully demonstrated significant business improvements and culture change in large complex businesses including Thomas Cook, Alliance & Leicester, BAA, TUI, Fenwick. Having held a number of Executive Directorships in large PLCs Fiona has set up her own business and works with CEOs and Executive teams, taking a key role to help deliver substantial transformation projects. Fiona is on the Trustee Board of Pilotlight.

Thomas Melchior

CEO

Thomas Melchior

CEO

Thomas has significant senior leadership experience having held several directorships with companies across the globe including CFO at CWC Maldives/Dhiraagu, COO at PTK Kosovo, CEO of Horizon Remote Services Pvt. Ltd and CFO of Swisscom International India/Essar Cellphone. Recently he has focused on start-up companies and acts as CFO and strategic consultant for Whitefield GmbH (Zurich) and DogData OU (Estonia). He holds an MBA from the University of Rochester and a Federal Diploma in Business Administration from Zurich Business School. Thomas is based in Switzerland but will spend as much time as is required by the board to fulfil his duties as Finance Director of the Group. He has held director positions with several European companies including CFO at CWC Maldives/Dhiraagu, CFO at PTK Kosovo, CEO of Horizon and CFO of Swisscom International India/Essar Cellphone. Thomas is currently CFO at DogData OU; Senior Consultant & Senior Writer at Iwriteicowhitepapers.com and an independent Financial Consultant helping startups, new ventures, expansions and buyouts in emerging markets.

Dr. Etrur Albani

Non-Executive Director

Dr. Etrur Albani

Non-Executive Director

Etrur is a serial entrepreneur who has held many leadership roles in both start-up and established businesses, he is experienced in turn-around management and strategic development. In 2003 he joined Post and Telecom of Kosova as Manager for Strategic Planning, he then moved to Director of Strategic Planning and Development before appointment as Managing Director where he has been responsible for significant restructuring and growth. Etrur holds a Ph.D. and has completed the Oxford Strategic Leadership Course at Said Business School. Etrur received his PhD from London South Bank University, with an emphasis in 'High-Speed Communication Devices Using Microstrips'. Prior to this, he received a Bachelor of Electronic Engineering from North London University, with an emphasis on Electronic and Telecommunication Engineering.

Alain Gottesman

Non-Executive Director

Alain Gottesman

Non-Executive Director

Alain is a senior strategic adviser with experience working with multinational companies ranging in size from start-ups to large public companies such as Denton’s Advisory, Guidry Libya Port Susah Advisory and Gulf Islamic Investment Dubai Advisory. Alain also worked with the Saudi Arabian Office of the Crown Prince regarding a desalination project in 2018. He has been involved in numerous equity capital raisings and M&A transactions as a director, adviser, and investor around the world, living in the USA for more than 10 years and eight years in Australasia, Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore. Alain’s experience includes Director of M&A at Strand Partners Investment Bank, CEO of Subsidiaries at Schlumberger Smart Cards & Terminals and Citizen Japan Vice President to Tokyo Office.

Executive Management

Thomas Melchior

CEO

Thomas Melchior

CEO

Farakh Farid

CFO

Farakh Farid

CFO

Farakh is an experienced Chartered Certified Accountant with Big-4 and international asset management, ed-tech, telecoms, fintech, real estate, construction and manufacturing experience.

Tony Crawley

Sales Project Director

Tony Crawley

Sales Project Director

Tony founded Zenova having gained significant experience in senior roles in growing companies within Construction and Fire Safety. He was Managing Director of Fripura Sales Ltd where he was responsible for setting up logistics, manufacturing and sales operations throughout Europe and Canada. Tony began his career as an electrical contractor which culminated in his appointment as Chairman of a national contracting company with over 150 employees and generating revenue in excess of £18 million.

Graeme Sargent

Technical Director

Graeme Sargent

Technical Director

Over 30 years experience in all aspects of construction and trades and also as a firefighter since 2001, starting with Surrey Fire and Rescue in the UK and now as a Lieutenant in British Columbia, Canada. Graeme is also an experienced entrepreneur who has developed multiple innovative products and businesses with success globally. Graeme was previously the President/ Director of 21 Degrees Mechanical Ltd, DOO for Best Western Hotels, Project Manger for Senior Living Development and a Partner/Director for FripuraWorks Inc.

Paul Williamson

International Project Director

Paul Williamson

International Project Director

With over 30 years experience within the city of London, Paul has been a consultant and advisor to a number of new business ventures covering UK, Europe, U.S.A and Middle East. Paul's expertise includes strategy and deal structuring with strong project funding experience from UK institutions and bi-lateral UK Government agencies. Exceptional negotiation skills in complex and challenging environments, implementing commercial, residential and retail development projects.

Daiki Iida

Technical and product Development senior manager

Daiki Iida

Technical and product Development senior manager

Working out of our Tokyo office, Daiki Iida is a seasoned professional with over 20 years experience in the fire protection industry, bringing invaluable experience to the team.