How an Italian entrepreneur built a future-ready industrial services powerhouse from the Middle East
In a city that celebrates ambition, scale and vision, Mauro Sasso stands out not for spectacle, but for precision. Based between Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Europe, Sasso has quietly built one of the most agile and globally connected industrial service groups operating today. His company spans inspection, engineering, project management and supply chain services across 56 countries, coordinating more than 4,200 professionals worldwide in 2025 alone.
Dubai is not just a location for Sasso. It is a mindset. A crossroads of global business, fast decisions and uncompromising standards. From the Middle East, he leads multi-sector operations serving Oil and Gas, renewables, pharmaceuticals, offshore, petrochemicals and large-scale infrastructure projects. The scope is vast, but the execution is deliberate. Every operation is built on speed, accuracy and technical excellence.
Sasso’s journey has already earned international recognition. In October 2022, he was nominated by Forbes Italy among the 100 Best CEOs. Two months later, Forbes dedicated a two-page feature to his leadership and business vision. His voice has since appeared across Italian newspapers, television interviews and B2B discussions focused on leadership, strategy and the future of global industry.
What defines his leadership begins long before the first meeting of the day. His mornings start at dawn with CrossFit, followed by a disciplined hour dedicated to reading world news, analyzing markets and studying global trends. Energy, geopolitics, technology and macroeconomics all inform his decisions. For Sasso, physical discipline sharpens mental clarity, and mental clarity drives better leadership.
From its origins in Oil and Gas, the company has evolved into a multi-sector platform designed for resilience and future growth. Pharmaceuticals and renewable energy now stand alongside petrochemicals, offshore operations and infrastructure development. Beyond services, the group provides highly qualified engineers, supervisors and commissioning teams to construction sites worldwide.
Innovation is embedded into the organization’s operating system. A strategic investment in a Swedish AI-driven recruitment platform has transformed global talent selection. Combined with international talent hubs in India, Romania, Dubai and Italy, this technology allows rapid deployment of specialized professionals to complex projects.
Dubai and Abu Dhabi serve as strategic anchors for this global network. Looking ahead, Sasso’s vision is clear: doubling revenue, strengthening digital infrastructure, and expanding into Asia with new offices in Thailand and South Korea. His approach proves that in a world driven by scale, precision remains the ultimate competitive advantage.
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
Dubai has become a central base for your global operations. What does the Middle East represent for your long-term vision?
The Middle East represents speed, ambition and strategic clarity. Dubai and Abu Dhabi are not just operational hubs; they are platforms where global decisions are made early, executed decisively and measured by results. From here, we connect East and West, manage complex multi-country operations and operate in an environment that rewards precision, accountability and vision. For our long-term strategy, the region is the anchor that allows us to scale globally while maintaining control and excellence.
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Your leadership style is strongly tied to discipline and daily routines. How has this shaped your decision-making as a CEO?
Discipline creates clarity. My days start early with sport, followed by reading multiple international newspapers and market briefings, and a moment of meditation. This structure allows me to approach decisions with focus and balance. In volatile industries, emotional leadership is a risk. Routine helps remove noise, sharpen priorities and maintain consistency under pressure.
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Your company has expanded far beyond Oil and Gas. What guided your diversification into multiple industrial sectors?
Diversification was driven by foresight, not reaction. We identified early that resilience in global industry comes from multi-sector capability. The technical foundations of Oil and Gas—precision, safety and compliance—are transferable to renewables, pharmaceuticals, offshore and infrastructure. Expanding across sectors allowed us to protect the business from cyclical volatility while positioning it for future growth aligned with global energy and industrial transitions.
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Technology plays a key role in your growth strategy. How has AI-driven recruitment changed the way you scale globally?
AI-driven recruitment has fundamentally transformed speed and accuracy. By integrating advanced technology with our global talent hubs, we can identify, validate and deploy highly specialized professionals in record time. This is critical in industries where the cost of delay or mismatch is extremely high. Technology doesn’t replace human judgment—it enhances it, allowing us to scale globally without losing quality or control.
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Managing over 4,200 professionals worldwide is no small task. What is your approach to building and maintaining strong teams?
Strong teams are built on trust, competence and accountability. We invest heavily in selecting the right people, not just technically but culturally. Clear expectations, transparent communication and respect for expertise are non-negotiable. Our structure empowers local teams while maintaining global standards, ensuring alignment across countries, cultures and projects.
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Asia is clearly part of your future roadmap. What opportunities do you see in markets like Thailand and South Korea?
Asia represents the next phase of industrial evolution. Thailand offers strategic access to Southeast Asia’s growing infrastructure and energy markets, while South Korea stands at the intersection of advanced engineering, technology and industrial excellence. Both markets align with our focus on high-complexity projects where precision and speed are decisive advantages.
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When you look ahead five to ten years, what legacy do you hope your company and leadership will leave behind?
I hope the legacy will be one of reliability, innovation and discipline. A company known not for noise, but for execution. One that proves global scale and precision can coexist, and that leadership rooted in consistency and long-term thinking can outperform short-term trends. Ultimately, the goal is to build an organization that continues to create value long after individual leadership evolves.
