KUALA LUMPUR: Sapura Energy Bhd has appointed Tan Sri Shamsul Azhar Abbas as director and non-independent non-executive chairman, effective today.
The integrated oil and gas services and solutions provider said Shamsul will succeed Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr Hamid Bugo, who will be retiring after serving the company for more than eight years.
Sapura Energy president and chief executive officer Tan Sri Shahril Shamsuddin welcomed Shamsul to the chairmanship.
"We are very privileged to have Shamsul, a well-respected figure in the global oil and gas industry, as our chairman," said Shahril in a statement today.
He said Sapura Energy will greatly benefit from Shamsul's leadership mettle, deep expertise and strategic insight to help the company navigate forward to the next level of growth.
Shahril also expressed gratitude to outgoing chairman Hamid who has been a member of the company's board of directors since 2012.
"Hamid's wise counsel and strong network helped Sapura Energy achieve some of our key milestones in the past few years.
"We thank him for his commitment and unwavering support, and his legacy will continue to be part of Sapura Energy's success," added Shahril.
Shamsul is a nominee director of Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB) as the fund manager collectively owns a 40 per cent stake in Sapura Energy.
Shamsul is a key leader in the oil and gas industry, having helmed Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) as president and chief executive officer from 2010 to 2015.
He joined Petronas in 1975 and served in various capacities during his 40 years' tenure with the organisation.
During his leadership, he guided the national oil company in undertaking strategic landmark projects such as the Pengerang Integrated Refinery and Petrochemical Project (RAPID) and Petronas Floating LNG Facilities Project.
Shamsul was instrumental in the global expansion of the national oil company, through the acquisition of Progress Energy Canada and the development of shale gas to liquified natural gas via the Pacific North West LNG project.
Shamsul also led MISC Bhd as chairman in 2010 to 2011, and as president and chief executive officer from 2004 to 2008.
He holds a Master of Science (MSc) in Energy Management from University of Pennsylvania, a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science and Economics from Universiti Sains Malaysia, as well as a Technical Diploma in Petroleum Economics from Paris-based Institut Français du Pétrole.
He was a Pro-Chancellor of Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) and was a member of Board of Trustees of the Razak School of Government (RSOG).