About Us

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ORIGINS OF Woodbois

Combining two uniquely Africa focused businesses

Woodbois was born out of the union of two uniquely Africa focused businesses – Obtala Ltd and WoodBois International (WBI).


In 2017 Obtala, an African mineral and agricultural company, acquired WBI, a company engaged in the global trade of sawn West African hardwood. They had grown to become a leading global trader of African timber and timber products. The union of Obtala and WBI was followed, in March 2019, by a name-change and re-brand. Obtala Ltd became Woodbois Ltd, signalling the completion of the company’s transition.

Today, Woodbois is a business focused on the production, processing, manufacture and supply of sustainable softwood, hardwood and related products throughout Africa and across the globe.

Management team

Graeme Thomson

NON-EXECUTIVE CHAIR
Graeme, 62, is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and has been a public company director for many decades, as a CEO, CFO/Company Secretary and as a Non-Executive. He has varied commercial UK and international experience, including of Audit and Remuneration Committees.

Paul Dolan

CEO
Based in the UK, Paul held senior management positions within banking and hedge funds prior to joining Woodbois. Paul has consistently built award winning, world-class teams employing custom-built technology to manage substantial pools of human and financial capital across a diversified group of asset classes ranging from fixed income and equity derivatives to soft commodities and forestry.

Hadi Ghossein

DEPUTY CHAIRMAN
Based in Gabon, Hadi has 25 years of experience managing forestry operations, including full ownership of a forestry business. Hadi previously served as a diplomat, travelling extensively across Africa, as well as owning various trading and real estate companies. Hadi is fluent in Arabic, French, Portuguese and English and holds Gabonese citizenship.
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forest management

Newly equipped production facilities

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We operate a 13 hectare sawmill site and a five hectare veneer factory in Gabon, as well as a 10 hectare sawmill in Mozambique. Each site is equipped with the latest machinery, all of which has been installed within the last three to four years. We have also installed new Techdri kilns within our sawmills, ensuring all operations and processes can be completed on-site.

WBI acts as a bridge between the West African timber-producing sector and the global timber consuming industry. Our sustainable methods aim to meet the growing demand for hardwood that is both high-quality and good value.

Sales

Highly experienced global team

Our highly experienced team is made up of timber specialists, located throughout both Europe and Africa. They are experts in sourcing sustainable timber, or timber products, and efficiently supplying to a global customer base.

Woodbois’ founders have over 20 years of experience in the African wood procurement and sales sectors. They have not only worked within the hardwood industry but lived in West Africa for many years, which provides them with a unique understanding of the sector.

Talk to an expert

Contact your regional trade expert today

Contact Us
Jake Slocombe (Americas, Europe & Asia)
Ous Dagui (Europe, Middle East & Africa)