Al-Houti, the Chief Executive Officer of Hot Engineering & Construction Co. (HOTECC), holds the prestigious 37th rank. Since its inception in the bygone year of 1974, HOTECC has meticulously crafted a resplendent legacy spanning four decades, earning acclaim for its unwavering dedication to meeting clients’ needs and transcending their loftiest aspirations.
Under the captivating guidance of the visionary leader, Jamal, HOTECC emerges as a vanguard in Kuwait’s dynamic landscape of oil and gas development, where the alchemy of modernization intertwines with the robust threads of infrastructure. With a strategic tapestry woven from diversification and fortified by international alliances, the company assumes a commanding posture, shaping the contours of its growth and widening its embrace within the industry.
Below are highlights of the interview:
Describe who you are as a person, inside and outside of the workplace.
My name is Jamal Nasser Al-Houti, I’m from Kuwait. On a personal level, I am married and have six kids. I am a holder of Bachelor of Electrical Engineering where I graduated from Buffalo University in the U.S back in year 1979, and my main hobby is fishing. I like reading books, most specifically those related to business and new ideas. I think people see me as a humble person yet very detailed at work.
Describe your background and what did you do before you started/joined the company?
I’m currently a board member and CEO of HOT Engineering and Construction Company (HOTECC) in Kuwait for more than 7 years now. I have over 30 years of experience in the Engineering field, most particularly in the O&G industry. I began my career working at KNPC where I learned the vast majority of my experience for which I am trying to apply here at HOTECC. I used to handle maintenance, planning, and projects department.
Tell us about the inception of the company. How did it all start?
HOTECC was established back in 1974 with a vision to provide top-quality engineering, procurement, and construction services to the clients in Kuwait and possibly beyond. From the very beginning, HOTECC aimed to excel in the local market and build a solid reputation for its expertise and commitment to delivering successful projects. The company embarked on its journey by focusing on the O&G sectors where it saw significant potential for further growth and development.
HOTECC’s early years were marked by dedication, hard work, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. It quickly gained recognition for its ability to deliver projects on time, within budget, and with the highest standards of quality. This consistent performance and client satisfaction contributed to the establishment of a strong foothold in the local market for which, nowadays, we are managing projects that are worth over $850m in total.
What has made you successful? What do you value?
I think when passion is coupled with determination, any individual is expected to be successful. I, indeed, value people who know their potential and skills they have, and they appreciate what God has given them before they put actual plans for their future using such skills and talent. I always tell my kids that the route to success in the majority of cases is linked to you planning for your future and trying to stick to that plan. Surely things can change, but at least to have a roadmap of yours is something of great importance.
Which are the major services of the company and how do they the company to get ahead in the competition? What value-added services does the company provide?
HOTECC has three main core business lines; and they are O&G services, Building construction, and Infrastructure work. These business lines support our strategy in terms of strengthening our image and solidifying our reputation ahead of the competition. Our work professionalism and ethics are the basis of how we deliver the projects to our clients for which we have received lots of appreciation letters and awards. We focus on the other hand on developing our people and enhancing our operation.
These business lines are supported by our huge Equipment fleet that includes a variety of light and heavy earth-moving equipment and is regarded as the company’s backbone, as well las our Asphalt Plant. During the past few years, we have paid special attention to these two divisions. We are continuously updating our equipment fleet with the latest models, and we equipped the Asphalt plant with a state-of-the-art laboratory, and the most contemporary apparatus.
We also believe that we are improving our business by adding great value services into the supply chain. We have recently established a new business division that employs many services such as Interior Design, HVAC installation and maintenance, Facility Management, and many others.
What are the most important aspects of a company’s culture? What principles do you believe in and how do you build this culture?
Being a contracting company and dealing with complex projects in the domains that we have mentioned, this puts a huge responsibility on our shoulders to ensure safety of our staff as well as to ensure completion of the projects on time in accordance with the quality the client expects. So, to answer your question, safety measures are the most important aspect of our culture at HOTECC. It certainly is. This does not mean in any way that we close our eyes on other elements as we pay a lot of attention to issues like talent development, enhance operational efficiencies and so on.
What is the significance of innovative ideas in the company?
I think that no one denies the fact that innovation is a very critical driver for the success of the companies operating in today’s fast-paced business environment. It helps companies gain competitive advantages, reduce costs, improve customer satisfaction, increase revenue, and build a reputation being the leaders in their own industry. I must emphasize here, however, that in my own opinion the concept of innovation does not necessary mean to produce a breakthrough technological gadget or anything of that sort, but, it could be as simple as making your operation work in a smarter way that no one else thought about; by reengineering of your processes for example. So, I think companies that prioritize innovation are better positioned to succeed in the long term.
Give us your opinion on; do organizations rely heavily on individual heroics or team processes?
I think organizations should really try their best to strike a fair and objective balance between individual contributions and teamwork to ensure stability and consistency in achieving goals, while also encouraging collaboration and open communication.
What are your responsibilities as the CEO of the company? What is the happiest part of your daily routine?
The CEO has a wide range of important responsibilities within the organization. Things like collaborating with board members on issues that matter to them, developing and implementing strategic plans, managing financial resources, overseeing the operation, leading the executive team, and representing the company before the authorities as well as the community.
As for the happiest part of my daily routine is, I think it is that moment when we have gathered as one team trying to discuss particular issue or problem, only to come at the end and we find a solution that everyone agrees upon.
What advice would you give someone going into a leadership position for the first time?
Well, I would definitely say that listening to the team members, providing specific goals, and clear expectations are very important things. They represent genuine leadership attitude. Also, since we are, at the end, human beings and we tend to make lots of mistakes, we need to be completely adaptive and always prepared to learn from our and mistakes and others’ as well. I must not forget that leaders need certainly to be leading by example. That’s critical to their integrity.
