Muscat – In a historic leadership restructuring, Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) has appointed Dr Aflah al Hadhrami – currently CEO of Integrated Gas Company (IGC) – as its new managing director, making him the first Omani national to head the company.

PDO’s transformation journey is approaching the three-year mark and continues to generate positive business results, a press release stated.

‘PDO has redefined its purpose, refreshed its strategy, renewed its operating model and implemented a cultural transformation. PDO is now changing its organisational leadership structure to further enhance competitiveness and business performance,’ it added.

The PDO Board has finalised structural changes and senior appointments, creating a smaller, strategic decision-making leadership team – made up of five executive directors and the managing director –  responsible for delivery across assets, and technical and corporate functions. These changes will take effect from June 1, 2024.

In addition, the PDO Board has agreed to align succession of the MD with this organisational change.

Hadhrami brings with him broad energy experience from a global career spanning nearly three decades in executive, operational and commercial roles, in multinationals and government.

Prior to his stint at IGC, he served as CEO of Alshawamikh Oil Services, where he drove exponential business growth.

Hadhrami also held positions as regional director at BP, vice-president at Occidental Oman and senior management roles in Oman Refinery and Schlumberger Overseas.

‘As we welcome Hadhrami, we also take this opportunity to recognise the significant contribution made to PDO, and the energy industry of Oman, by (current MD) Steve Phimister.’