In the midst of alleged production challenges, Dangote Refinery appointed former Shell executive, David Bird as CEO

In the midst of alleged production challenges, Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals have appointed David Bird as the Director of Implementing/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Petroleum and Petrochemical Business.

The appointment came into force from July 2025, according to S&P Global, leading data and insight clothing, which reported development on Friday, August 1, 2025.

According to the report, Aliko Dangote, chairman of Dangote Industries Limited, will maintain his role as chairman of the purification business while continuing to serve as a CEO of a broader group, who operates a subsidiary of cement, fertilizer, and a subsidiary of sugar purification.Read more

Bird is a former Head of the Oman Duqm Refinery. Before that, he spent 14 years and 4 months as vice president, at Shell.

Dangote Refinery is expected to take advantage of the BIRD experience in expanding the duqm refinery and diversifying rough written stones as OQ8 CEO, the role he adopted for months before the Oman complex began his first test running in 2023.

Bird in his profile on LinkedIn notes that his responsibilities at Dangote Refinery will include leading the management of strategic, financial, and operational refineries as a whole.

‘Responsible for directing refinery operations to ensure the maximum output, efficiency, profitability, and compliance with regulatory and environmental standards and encourage the long -term vision of the refinery to become a leader in the global refining industry,’ he wrote.

According to the report, the gathering promise came after a series of units and “design problems” that had stopped the process of increasing the 650,000-B/D refinery, while his leadership had called for a hostile business environment because it challenged his operation.

By: Babajide Okeowo