MUSCAT: The Board of Directors of Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), the largest oil and gas producer in the Sultanate of Oman, has named Dr Aflah al Hadhrami as the new Managing Director, making him PDO’s first Omani national MD of the company.
Dr Al Hadhrami, who is currently CEO of Integrated Gas Company (IGC), will take over from incumbent MD Steve Phimister on June 1, 2024, said Eng Salim al Aufi, Minister of Energy and Minerals and Chairman of PDO’s Board.
In a statement, Al Aufi said the leadership change marks the culmination of a multi-year transformation journey at majority state-owned PDO.
“PDO’s transformation journey is approaching the three-year mark and continues to generate positive business results. PDO has redefined its Purpose, refreshed its Strategy, renewed its Operating Model, and implemented a cultural transformation. PDO is now changing its organizational leadership structure to further enhance competitiveness and business performance.
The PDO Board has finalized structural changes and senior appointments; creating a smaller, strategic decision-making leadership team, made up of five Executive Directors (EDs) and the Managing Director (MD) responsible for delivery across assets, technical and corporate functions. These changes will take effect from June 1, 2024,” Al Aufi stated, adding that the succession of the MD has been aligned with the organizational change.
Dr Aflah brings with him broad energy experience from a global career spanning nearly three decades in executive, operational and commercial roles, in multinationals and government.
Before joining PDO, he led the Integrated Gas Company SAOC (IGC).
Before that, he served as CEO of Alshawamikh Oil Services SAOC, where he drove exponential business growth.
Dr Aflah also held positions as Regional Director at BP, Vice President at Occidental Oman, and other senior management roles in Oman Refinery and Schlumberger Overseas. He has a passion for strategic leadership, transformative change, and the cultivation of high-performing teams.
“As we welcome Dr Aflah, we also take this opportunity to recognize the significant contribution made to PDO, and the Energy industry of Oman, by Steve Phimister. Steve has worked in partnership with the Board, Oil and Gas leaders, and PDO’s management to redefine the business strategy and purpose, streamlined PDO’s ways of working, and driven its cultural transformation,” Al Aufi said.
“Steve will depart PDO following a handover period with Dr Aflah ensuring PDO continues to work at pace to maximise value safely for Oman. We would like to thank Steve for his immense energy and passion in transforming PDO, whilst leading the organization to achieve competitive business delivery and far stronger HSE performance these past three years,” he added.
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