Karachi: Pakistan State Oil Company Limited (PSO) has announced the appointment of Mr. Jawwad Ahmed Cheema as its Chief Executive Officer for a three-year term, commencing on May 18, 2026. Mr. Cheema will replace Mr. Abdus Sami, who currently holds the position of interim CEO.

According to Pakistan State Oil, Mr. Cheema brings over 28 years of experience in the downstream energy sector, having held corporate leadership roles in five countries across Asia-Pacific, Europe, and South Asia. His extensive career includes a 26-year tenure with Royal Dutch Shell, where he advanced from frontline retail operations in Pakistan to senior global leadership positions, showcasing expertise in strategic transformation and organizational change.

In his previous role as Managing Director and CEO of Shell Pakistan Limited, Mr. Cheema guided the company through significant strategic and operational changes. His international roles with Shell included Vice President of Strategy and Portfolio at Shell International B.V., where he managed global infrastructure portfolio strategy, and Vice President of Shell Business Operations in Singapore, where he oversaw business process outsourcing functions.

Mr. Cheema's career also highlights his role as General Manager leading Shell's retail fuels entry into Indonesia and his most recent position as CEO of Karachi Hydrocarbon Terminal. His governance experience includes serving as Chairman of Shell Pakistan Limited and as a Director on the boards of Pakistan Refinery Limited and Pakistan Arab Pipeline Company.

Mr. Cheema's appointment reflects PSO's strategic focus on leveraging his global experience and understanding of Pakistan's energy landscape to drive the company's future growth and transformation initiatives.