The Lagos-based Dangote refinery has appointed a former executive of Shell Plc, David Bird, as the new CEO of the company.
Bird takes over from billionaire industrialist Aliko Dangote, who is the founder and president of the refinery.
While Dangote remains the chairman of the company, Bird is expected to oversee the business operations of the plant going forward.
So, who is David Bird, the man now at the helm of the world’s largest single-train refinery?
An oil and gas veteran
David Bird is a seasoned professional in the oil and gas industry, with over 25 years of experience.
He spent more than 15 years at Shell, where he served as Vice President of the company’s Prelude FLNG project in Australia.
Bird was also the chairman of Shell’s Australia RAP board, which focused on reconciliation initiatives.
According to his official LinkedIn page, he worked with Shell from April 2000 to July 2018. That amounts to over 18 years of experience at the global oil major.
A refinery magnate
Beyond his track record at Shell, Bird also served as CEO of Duqm Refinery in Oman. The project is a joint venture between OQ Group and Kuwait Petroleum International.
He held the role for more than two years before his appointment at Dangote Refinery.
Bird’s leadership at Duqm and his earlier experience in driving complex energy projects make him a strong choice to lead the refinery.
S&P Global reports that Bird’s focus at Dangote will be on delivering maximum output and improving operational efficiency. He aims to position the company as a global market leader.
He also held a key role as head of operations at Pulau Bukom in Singapore, which is Shell’s largest refinery.
Another Shell alumnus to lead a Nigerian oil major
Shell Plc continues to have a strong influence on leadership across Nigeria’s oil sector.
Many of the CEOs leading indigenous oil firms in Nigeria today are former Shell executives.
One example is Bashir Ojulari, the current CEO of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company, who also came from Shell.
Another is Tony Attah, the CEO of Renaissance. He previously worked with Shell and later served as head of NLNG before taking his current role.
Bird now joins this growing list of Shell veterans leading major oil ventures in Nigeria.
The Dangote refinery is expected to be listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange and the London Stock Exchange by 2026.
It also projects to generate up to $30 billion in revenue over the next year.
