Bolashak Team

Richard Mulcahy, Group Chairman

A successful entrepreneur, Richard Mulcahy has 20 years' experience in the manpower industry. After extensive experience in the Oil and Gas industry, Richard managed Swift Technical for many years, growing the company to become one of the leading international providers of manpower services to the Oil and Gas industry. Bolashak is privileged to be able to draw upon Richard’s knowledge of the international Oil and Gas industry. His success and experience as a high-profile executive in the manpower service sector are a great asset in developing and implementing Bolashak’s strategy for growth.


Chris Weldon, Group Managing Director

Chris Weldon is an Electrical and Instrumentation engineer, with 25 years experience in the international construction and petrochemical industries. Chris spent over ten years working on construction projects in Africa, before moving to the CIS in the mid-1990s, gaining extensive experience of business in the former Soviet Union and becoming a Russian speaker. Chris has been an integral part of Bolashak since the company was first established and was Managing Director from 2001 to 2007. In the interim period, Chris has continued to play an active role in Bolashak and, in particular, in our diversification into new technical services and in the Joint Ventures we have formed with Imtech and Seftec. In 2011, Chris took up the role of Group Managing Director and, with his knowledge and passion for the business, Chris is the ideal person to lead the Company forward.

Tim Bentham, Corporate Affairs Director

Tim Bentham is a graduate with over 15 years’ experience working for service providers to the Oil and Gas industry in Kazakhstan. Tim is a fluent Russian speaker, and has gained a wide knowledge of doing business in the former Soviet Union, specializing in particular in Kazakhstan. Having spent seven years managing commercial and administration activities for an Oil and Gas support services provider in Kazakhstan, Tim entered the Oil and Gas recruitment industry in 2000. Tim was appointed as Commercial Director of Bolashak when it was formed in 2001, and since then, has been responsible for the management of all commercial operations and contract administration of the business from its establishment to its current position as market leader in Kazakhstan.


Maxim Gubashev, Group Finance Director

Maxim Gubashev is an accountant, with a degree in International Financial Management and over 12 years’ experience in financial management, accounting and reporting. Maxim started his career as an accountant working for 3 years for a large international service provider in the Tengiz oilfield. This was followed by move to Aksai (Karachaganak) oilfield to take the position of Finance Manager within the same company. In next few years Maxim took on the role of Regional Finance Manager, overseeing the company’s operations in the CIS, covering Kazakhstan, Azerbajan and Russia (Sakhalin Island), as well as the responsibility as Finance Director of the company’s largest project in the region, in Tengiz. Maxim joined Bolashak in mid-2008 as Finance Manager, quickly being promoted to Finance Director. Drawing upon his international and Kazakhstan-based financial management experience, Maxim has provided strong financial stewardship during an exceptional period of growth in Bolashak’s history.