Mr ASHOK KUMAR SOOD
MANAGING DIRECTOR
CLASSECON ROOFING AFRICA LTD
Zambia
W : www.classecon.com
Industry / Sector
Manufacturing
Personal Profile
A Science graduate with a Masters’ degree in Business Administration. He started career with the largest producer of Iron & Steel in India, i.e. Steel Authority of India as Management Trainee. This company had 4 integrated steel plants and produced 10 Million Tons of steel comprising the entire range of mild and special steels.
Worked in various capacities and locations earning rich experience of steel products, specifications, applications, marketing techniques and technology.
Moved to Safal Group in the year 2000. Worked as Marketing Head of the flagship company of this Group in Nairobi, Kenya till 2006.
The Group promoted and transferred him to Lusaka, Zambia in 2007 as Chief Operating Officer & Director of Safintra Zambia Ltd, which was a new venture of the Group still struggling to break-even. The company was turned around within a year, towards the end of 2007 and quickly established itself as the market leaders in roofing business in Zambia.
Based on his accumulated expertise, he was also appointed as a Director of Safintra Roofing Inland Pty, Johanessburg in 2010. Same year Government of Zambia appointed him Director of one of its para-statals namely M/s.National Technologies Ltd.
When Safintra Zambia Ltd was at its peak in 2011, he resigned to start a greenfield new venture ClassEcon Roofing Africa Ltd. Which has become a confident and a successful company, a quality leader and a household name in Zambia since.
Has attended several courses and training programs run by internationally acclaimed IIM, Ahemadabad, British Steel Consultants, Tack Training International, UK etc.
Company Profile
COMPANY PROFILE BACKGROUND ClassEcon Roofing Africa Ltd. (ClassEcon) was incorporated in September 2010. Being in one of the priority sectors as designated by Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) the company was duly accredited by an Investment License in December 2010. PROMOTERS ClassEcon was jointly promoted by M/S Zambia Investments Ltd (ZIL), a UK based Investment Company and Mr. Ashok Kumar Sood (AKS), a management professional with a distinguished career. ZIL was incorporated to channel the investments of shareholders into various fields in Zambia over a period of time. ClassEcon is a pilot project. It is expected to be followed by other projects to be promoted over the next 2-3 years. ZIL shareholders have businesses spread over 3 continents and have rich experience in the Steel/ Hospitality sectors. ASK is Post Graduate in the field of management and has been associated with the Steel industry from the beginning of his long and rewarding career of over 30 years. He worked for Steel Authority of India for 20 years holding independent key positions in various locations before moving into Kenya as Head of Marketing for Galsheet Kenya Ltd. He was later promoted and posted as Chief Operating Officer of Safintra Zambia Ltd. Lusaka in 2007 and elevated as Director of the company in 2008. Simultaneously he also served on the Board of Safintra Roofing and Steel PTY Ltd. Johannesburg, South Africa. A position he held till February 2011 when he resigned from Safintra Zambia Ltd. to start the green-field company ClassEcon. He was also appointed on the Board of parastatal National Technologies Ltd. (affliated with National Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research) in 2010. He also served on the Technical Committee of Zambia Bureau of Standards for developing Standards on Roofings in Zambia. For his valuable contribution he was awarded a Certificate of Recognition duly presented to him by the Hon. Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry in Lusaka on 20th May 2011. PROJECTS The company acquired ultra modern equipment with all the latest features from the world class equipment suppliers. Some of these features are yet unknown in Zambia. These will benefit Zambian consumers by providing the very best roofing at prices more economical than the prevailing prices for fewer product features. In all, 5 Brand New Profiling Lines were commissioned to supply the full range of Roofing Profiles and Tiles. OUR MISSION We commit ourselves to bringing the World of Class and the Regime of Economy together, to make class more affordable for Zambian Consumers. OUR VISION To be the first Company on the minds of Customers when roofing is thought of. OUR PRODUCTS I. ROOFING We have a selection of different profiles for each type of application. - Industrial Roofing (Shades, Factory, Storage and Cladding) - Commercial Roofing (Showrooms, Filling Stations and Hotels) - Institutional Roofing (Schools, Churches and Hospitals) - Residential We offer a number of options for each of these applications. All types of accessories such as Ridges, valleys, Flashings, Ridge Ventilators, Insulation Films, Fasteners e.t.c are available.