SSGC hired DMDs that lacked required skills
Company argues it was facing severe succession gaps at leadership positions at that time
Company argues it was facing severe succession gaps at leadership positions at that time. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
The Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) made controversial appointments during the 2013-18 tenure of previous Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government, according to documents available with The Express Tribune.
Among such appointments, two deputy managing directors (DMDs) namely Imran Faruqi and Waseem Ahmed were hired in 2016, but they did not have the required skills advertised. They were hired by the then MD and endorsed by the board in a haste, knowing that it was being replaced.
According to the documents, the management in its note to the board clearly stated that these were compromised candidates, yet the board approved their hiring in grade-9 as acting DMDs.
According to officials, there was no precedent in the company of hiring on acting positions. Furthermore, both the acting DMDs were promoted to grade-10 without completing the mandatory three-year term required for promotion.
Prior to these appointments, Mujtaba Ahmed and Kamran Nagi were hired on the vacant position of GM Procurement, but they never worked on the post and were placed on other positions, where they failed miserably.
Separately, Saeed Rizvi was hired as GM Meter Plant for his expertise in manufacturing and quality assurance. After spending time as the GM Meter Plant, he was posted as GM P&D - an engineering position - but he did not have any engineering degree and was not recognised by the Pakistan Engineering Council.
Last year, SSGC hired Jamshed Nisar as General Manager Compression, but due to his poor understanding of the critical generation operation, six compressors newly installed on the LNG line were destroyed, but no action was taken.
At present, all these executives are heading important divisions on an acting and permanent basis, but SSGC’s performance is on the wane.
Last year during internal promotions, many deserving candidates were ignored and now these slots are being filled through external hiring despite the reservations expressed by the board’s human resources committee, say officials. These candidates, who have no relevant experience of a downstream gas company, have been picked by the DMDs.
When approached for comments, SSGC said at the time of hiring both the DMDs, the company was facing severe succession gaps at leadership positions and the situation warranted extraordinary decisions to ensure continuity of the business.
After detailed deliberations, SSGC said, these positions were advertised through prequalified headhunting firms to ensure fairness, merit and transparency, and both internal and external candidates were provided with equal opportunity to participate in the recruitment process.
“After a rigorous recruitment process, the present DMDs along with other candidates were interviewed by the Board Human Resources and Remuneration Committee and the board approved the hiring of the most suitable candidates from the available pool.”
SSGC reports profit of Rs1.47 billion
It may also be noted, the company said, that considering the importance of DMD positions, the candidates were offered an extended probation period of one year (standard probation period is of six months in SSGC) as well as placed in the acting capacity to evaluate and monitor their performance as DMDs and ensure the hiring of right persons.
After completion of the probationary period, the board evaluated the performance of both the DMDs and gave its unanimous decision for confirmation.
“The candidates were hired as DMDs, only during the probation period, they were designated as acting DMDs, and were confirmed as DMDs upon satisfactory performance during the probation period. Therefore, it is not the promotion but merely completion of the probation period,” SSGC explained.
“The workers, officers and management of SSGC are committed to the prosperity of the company, which eventually contributes to a prosperous Pakistan,” it remarked.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 25th, 2019.
The Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) made controversial appointments during the 2013-18 tenure of previous Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government, according to documents available with The Express Tribune.
Among such appointments, two deputy managing directors (DMDs) namely Imran Faruqi and Waseem Ahmed were hired in 2016, but they did not have the required skills advertised. They were hired by the then MD and endorsed by the board in a haste, knowing that it was being replaced.
According to the documents, the management in its note to the board clearly stated that these were compromised candidates, yet the board approved their hiring in grade-9 as acting DMDs.
According to officials, there was no precedent in the company of hiring on acting positions. Furthermore, both the acting DMDs were promoted to grade-10 without completing the mandatory three-year term required for promotion.
Prior to these appointments, Mujtaba Ahmed and Kamran Nagi were hired on the vacant position of GM Procurement, but they never worked on the post and were placed on other positions, where they failed miserably.
Separately, Saeed Rizvi was hired as GM Meter Plant for his expertise in manufacturing and quality assurance. After spending time as the GM Meter Plant, he was posted as GM P&D - an engineering position - but he did not have any engineering degree and was not recognised by the Pakistan Engineering Council.
Last year, SSGC hired Jamshed Nisar as General Manager Compression, but due to his poor understanding of the critical generation operation, six compressors newly installed on the LNG line were destroyed, but no action was taken.
At present, all these executives are heading important divisions on an acting and permanent basis, but SSGC’s performance is on the wane.
Last year during internal promotions, many deserving candidates were ignored and now these slots are being filled through external hiring despite the reservations expressed by the board’s human resources committee, say officials. These candidates, who have no relevant experience of a downstream gas company, have been picked by the DMDs.
When approached for comments, SSGC said at the time of hiring both the DMDs, the company was facing severe succession gaps at leadership positions and the situation warranted extraordinary decisions to ensure continuity of the business.
After detailed deliberations, SSGC said, these positions were advertised through prequalified headhunting firms to ensure fairness, merit and transparency, and both internal and external candidates were provided with equal opportunity to participate in the recruitment process.
“After a rigorous recruitment process, the present DMDs along with other candidates were interviewed by the Board Human Resources and Remuneration Committee and the board approved the hiring of the most suitable candidates from the available pool.”
SSGC reports profit of Rs1.47 billion
It may also be noted, the company said, that considering the importance of DMD positions, the candidates were offered an extended probation period of one year (standard probation period is of six months in SSGC) as well as placed in the acting capacity to evaluate and monitor their performance as DMDs and ensure the hiring of right persons.
After completion of the probationary period, the board evaluated the performance of both the DMDs and gave its unanimous decision for confirmation.
“The candidates were hired as DMDs, only during the probation period, they were designated as acting DMDs, and were confirmed as DMDs upon satisfactory performance during the probation period. Therefore, it is not the promotion but merely completion of the probation period,” SSGC explained.
“The workers, officers and management of SSGC are committed to the prosperity of the company, which eventually contributes to a prosperous Pakistan,” it remarked.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 25th, 2019.