Petronas appoints new chairman

Wan Zulkiflee stays as president and CEO

PETALING JAYA: The government, via the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), has appointed Datuk Ahmad Nizam Salleh ( pic) as Petroliam Nasional Bhd’s (Petronas) chairman.

A statement issued by the PMO yesterday said the appointment would take immediate effect.

Tan Sri Wan Zulkiflee Wan Ariffin will remain as Petronas’ president and group chief executive officer.

“Ahmad Nizam has been working in the oil and gas (O&G) industry for 37 years and has served Petronas in several positions for the most part of his career,” the statement said.

Ahmad Nizam, 63, has worked in Petronas since 1981. From 2010 to 2015, he was the managing director/ CEO of South Africa-based Engen Ltd, an 80%-owned subsidiary of Petronas. Engen operates in 20 countries, including in southern Africa and the Indian Ocean islands.

Other positions he has held within the Petronas group include as vice-president of the corporate services division in 2007, and prior to that as the head of the crude oil group and group treasury.

He has also worked in Petronas’ corporate planning and finance sectors in various capacities, including as an analyst and project coordinator.

Ahmad Nizam is also currently an independent director at diversified O&G, civil engineering and construction and mining company WZ Satu Bhd.

He attended the advanced management programme at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School in 1999 and holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Ohio University.