PDO appoints first Omani as Managing Director

PDO’s Transformation journey is approaching the 3-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.

Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) is now changing its organisational leadership structure to further enhance competitiveness and business performance.

The PDO Board has finalised 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 the June 1 2024.

In addition, the PDO Board have agreed to align succession of the Managing Director with this organisational change.

Dr. Aflah Al Hadhrami (currently CEO of IGC) will become the new PDO MD, making him PDO’s first Omani national MD of the company.

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.

Prior to joining PDO, he led Integrated Gas Company SAOC (IGC). Before that, he served as CEO of

lshawamikh 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 recognise 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.

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 organisation to achieve competitive business delivery and far stronger HSE performance these past three years,” PDO said in a statement.