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Chairman and CEO
Mr. Staples is the Chairman and CEO of the TMP Metals Group, Inc. and its affiliate and subsidiary companies. Mr. Staples is a pioneering entrepreneur and investor in emerging markets. He is the Founder & Chairman of TMP Holdings, Inc. TMP Holdings, Inc. is a global investment firm and holding company headquartered in Beverly Hills, CA. TMP creates, develops and finances private-sector projects on a global basis, with a particular focus on Central and Eastern Europe. Mr. Staples is also the Chairman and CEO of the TMP Logistics Group, Ltd. TMP Logistics is an integrated group of trucking and logistics companies focused on developing green solutions for the heavy-duty trucking sector.
Mr. Staples was one of the first American entrepreneurs to make direct investments in Central and Eastern Europe after the fall of Communism. He was an early investor or founder of some of Central and Eastern Europe’s leading companies in telecom, banking and entertainment in more than twelve countries in the region. Mr. Staples is credited with ending the state-owned telecom monopolies in Eastern Europe and opening the region to competition in the market for mobile, fixed and wireless broadband data telecommunications services. He played a significant role in the development of the Prague and Tallinn Stock Exchanges. He also drafted European Commission Directive 2000/C-177/03, which successfully argued for the legalization of Internet Telephony and the licensing of alternative telco providers in Central and Eastern European countries that applied for membership in the European Union.
Mr. Staples received a Juris Doctorate Degree with highest honors in Business Law and International Finance from Harvard Law School. He is also a Phi Beta Kappa graduate from Washington University in St. Louis, where he received his Bachelor of Arts, summa cum laude, in Economics.
Chief Financial Officer
Ms. Keshta is the CFO of the TMP Metals Group, Ltd. and its associated companies. She is also the Vice President and CFO of TMP Holdings, Inc. TMP is a privately-owned investment and holding company headquartered in Beverly Hills, CA. TMP creates, develops, finances and manages private sector ventures on a global basis. As VP and CFO, Ms. Keshta oversees a group of companies with annual revenues in excess of $5 billion dollars and more than 1,000 employees. Ms Keshta was recently appointed President and CFO of TMP Capital FZE in Dubai, where she is developing investment opportunities in the United Arab Emirates. Ms. Keshta also serves as VP and CFO of National Freight Holdings, LLC. National Freight is a trucking and logistics holding company that owns several trucking and logistics companies throughout the USA. Ms. Keshta previously served as the CFO of Nexcom Telecommunications. Nexcom was the first and largest non-government owned telecommunications company in Central and Eastern Europe, operating in 12 countries throughout CEE, as well as the UK, Germany, Canada, and the USA. Ms. Keshta began her business career as the Chief Marketing Director for Wikon Communications in Frankfurt, Germany. Wikon develops remote surveillance and monitoring systems for oil pipelines in the Middle East, North America and Russia.
Ms. Keshta has a Master of Arts in Comparative Linguistics and Translation in Arabic, German, English, French, and Latin, from the University of Jordan in Amman. She also has a Bachelor of Arts, summa cum laude, in English and French Literature, from the University of Jordan. She has Certificates in Accounting, Finance, Investments and Real Estate.
Director of Global Purchasing and Market Analysis
Mr. Sobolev has over 35 years of experience in the base metals industry, focusing on trade, sales, and distribution. He has worked in various management and sales related positions within the Norilsk Nickel group of companies and served as President of Norilsk Nickel USA for more than 25 years. At Norilsk Nickel USA, Mr. Sobolev managed the sales of Nickel, Cobalt and Platinum Group Metals in the Americas. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Metallurgical Engineering from Bauman Moscow State Technical University.
DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT - THE AMERICAs
Mr. Blackman has more than 20 years of business experience in a diverse array of industries, including logistics, real estate, international sales, hospitality, and entertainment. Prior to joining TMP Metals Group, Mr. Blackman served as the Director of Business Development for the TMP Logistics Group, an integrated group of heavy-duty trucking, green transportation, and logistics software related companies. Before his tenure at the TMP Logistics Group, he was a consultant specializing in the hospitality industry, where he created strategic operating plans for restaurant groups, bars, lounges and hotels in Southern California. Prior to his career in hospitality consulting and management, Mr. Blackman served as the Regional Director for South East Asia at DWT Swiss AG, a global distributor of power tools. Prior to DWT Swiss AG, Mr. Blackman was a Vice-President at the Onyx Group, in Los Angeles, where he was responsible for managing client investments in the residential and commercial real estate market.
Vice President of Sales - Base Metals
Mr. Cerminaro has been in the metals industry for more than 30 years. He previously served as Vice President of Base Metal Sales for Norilsk Nickel USA for 15 years. Prior to that, he served as the Director of Stainless Steel Sales for 15 years with Keywell LLC., one of the world’s largest specialty scrap dealers. He managed many of the company’s largest accounts as well as purchasing from stainless steel processing facilities. Mr. Cerminaro currently specializes in Base Metal Sales for the TMP Metals Group. He has a Bachelor of Science in International Business with a Minor in Economics from Penn State University.
Vice President of Sales - Platinum Group Metals
Mr. Brudnok has over 35 years of commodities experience, with a primary focus on Nickel, including various executive roles with some of the industry’s largest trading firms and global mining organizations. He currently specializes in the sale of Platinum Group Metals and Nickel Specialty Products to the Automotive, Battery, Chemical Catalyst, and Industrial End User segments in North America , Latin America, and South America. Mr. Brudnok trained as an apprentice in the trading program at Phibro, formerly Philipp Brothers, which has been one the world’s preeminent global commodities trading firms for more than 120 years.
Managing Director of Logistics and Contracts
Ms. Friello currently serves as the Managing Director of Logistics and Contracts for the TMP Metals Group Ltd. Ms. Friello began her career at Norilsk Nickel USA in 2011 as a Logistics Coordinator. She was promoted to Senior Logistics Manager in 2019. Prior to joining Norilsk Nickel USA, Ms. Friello was an account executive in the finance department at BHP Billiton for nine years. While at BHP, she managed the tax shelter program for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania employees. She earned her Masters Degree in Business Administration and Taxation from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh and her Bachelor of Science in International Finance from Robert Morris University in Pittsburgh.
Managing Director of Logistics Administration
Ms. Yanko worked at Norilsk Nickel USA for 21 years. She currently manages delivery logistics for customers, contract entries, pricing and invoicing for the TMP Metals Group, LTD.
Logistics Warehouse Coordinator
Mr. Sakharov worked for Elesprom Engineering Xpress Global in Slovenia as a logistics associate before joining the TMP Metals Group, Ltd. He oversees the efficient flow of materials from our warehouses to our valued customers. Mr. Sakharov earned his Doctorate of Medicine from the University of Belgrade.
Chief Accounting Officer
Mr. Cecotti is responsible for financial reporting and tax compliance for the TMP Metals Group, LTD. Mr. Cecotti spent the past 18 years in the North American sales office of Norilsk Nickel USA, serving as the Chief Accounting Officer for 9 years. Prior to joining Norilsk Nickel, he was an auditor for 7 years with Schneider Downs, a regional accounting firm in Pittsburgh. He is a proud Alum of Indiana University of Pennsylvania where he majored in both Accounting and Finance.
The future of mining will be shaped by a combination of technological advancements, shifts in demand, environmental considerations, and the evolving global economic landscape.
