Faizal and Shabana's KEF Infra goes global, joins hands with Katerra
Menlo Park, June 21: Katerra, a technology company revolutionizing the design and construction industries, and KEF Infra, an offsite manufacturing technology specialist, announced a merger today that will jointly expand their geographic reach, manufacturing capacity, and market expertise. Known as KEF Katerra, it will operate in the India and the Middle East markets.
Both companies employ a vertically integrated model, offering end-to-end building services enhanced by offsite manufacturing and enterprise technology. In addition to addressing housing needs, KEF Katerra will be actively engaged in building critical infrastructure such as hospitals and schools.
Founded in 2014, KEF Infra utilizes robotics and automation in its advanced manufacturing operations to deliver high quality building projects more quickly and efficiently. The industry-leading expert in factory made products such as pre-cast concrete, prefabricated bathroom pods, joinery and furniture and aluminum and glazing facades for the Indian and Middle East markets, KEF Infra has 1,400 employees and factories in Krishnagiri, Tamil Nadu and Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh in India. With the merger, Katerra will bring world-class pre-cast concrete technologies to the U.S. market, greatly expanding design and materials options for U.S. clients. At the same time, the merger will result in a more robust global supply chain and elevated manufacturing processes in existing KEF markets.
Katerra employs more than 2,000 people with operational factories in Greater Phoenix, Arizona and Shanghai, China, as well as two more U.S. factories in development. After the merger, there will be 20 offices worldwide and 3,400 employees.
“We are thrilled to merge with KEF Infra, a company that is truly a disruptor,” said Michael Marks, chairman and co-founder of Katerra. “It’s incredible to discover a team so aligned with our values and vision.”
“I am very excited by the prospects of this strategic alliance,” said Faizal Kottikollon, founder and chairman of KEF Infra. “We look forward to breaking new ground with such a like-minded team.”
About Katerra
Katerra is a technology company optimizing every aspect of building development, design and construction. With leaders from the most groundbreaking technology, design, manufacturing and construction companies, Katerra transforms how buildings and spaces come to life. Founded in 2015, Katerra has a growing number of domestic and international offices, factories and building projects. For more information, visit www.katerra.com.
About KEF Infra
KEF Infrastructure India Pvt. Ltd. or KEF Infra, a wholly owned entity of KEF Holdings PTE, was founded in India in 2014 by successful entrepreneurs Faizal Kottikollon and Shabana Faizal, who wanted to bring state-of-the-art infrastructure creation to India. The company is a technology-driven building manufacturing company that is dedicated to transforming the way that buildings and basic services are created and delivered in India by revolutionizing production, using world-class technology.
Courtesy: businesswire.com
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JPMorgan executive sued in New York over alleged sexual abuse, harassment by former colleague
New York: A senior executive at JPMorgan Chase has been sued by a former colleague in New York, with allegations of prolonged sexual abuse, racial harassment and workplace intimidation.
The civil suit was filed before the New York County Supreme Court, as reported by The Observer Post. It names Lorna Hajdini, an executive director at the bank, as the defendant. The complainant, identified as “John Doe,” is described as an Asian banker who worked in the leveraged finance division.
The complaint alleges that the misconduct began after the two started working together in early 2024. It states that the defendant allegedly used her senior position to pressure him into unwanted sexual encounters and threatened his career progression if he refused.
The lawsuit further alleges multiple incidents of coercion and claims that the harassment escalated into sexual assault, despite repeated objections.
It also includes allegations of racial harassment, stating that derogatory remarks were made about the complainant’s ethnicity and personal life. The complaint further alleges that the defendant admitted to drugging him on certain occasions and accessed his bank account without authorisation.
Two witnesses have been cited in the filing as corroborating parts of the complainant’s account, including hearing his protests during alleged incidents.
The complainant has stated that he reported the alleged misconduct internally in May 2025. He further alleges retaliation, including loss of system access, reprimands, and being placed on involuntary leave. He also claims he received threatening calls referencing his ethnicity and immigration status.
His counsel, Daniel J. Kaiser, said the complainant has suffered emotional trauma and professional setbacks, including a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder.
Responding to the allegations, JPMorgan Chase denied any wrongdoing, stating that an internal investigation found no evidence to support the claims. The bank said that while several employees cooperated with the inquiry, the complainant did not participate in the process or provide supporting details.
