The Dangote Group has announced a major leadership change at its massive Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals, naming David Bird as the new Chief Executive Officer of its fuels and petrochemicals division. The appointment, effective July 2025, signals a strategic move by the Nigerian conglomerate to address operational challenges and accelerate its growth trajectory.
Bird, a seasoned industry professional, comes to the Dangote Group with a wealth of experience, most notably from his previous role as the head of Oman's Duqm refinery. His tenure at Duqm, where he was instrumental in the refinery's development, commissioning, and test runs in 2023, is seen by analysts as a key factor in his selection. This experience is expected to be crucial as the Dangote Refinery, the world's largest single-train refinery, continues to ramp up production and work through reported "design issues" that have hindered its full output.
A mechanical engineer and graduate of Imperial College, London, with an MBA from Stanford University, Bird's career history includes a significant stint at Shell, where he worked for about 20 years. He has held various senior positions, including leading the world's first floating LNG facility, Prelude FLNG, and serving as head of operations at Shell's largest refinery in Pulau Bukom, Singapore. He also served as SVP of production operations and supply chain at Santos Ltd.
In his new role, Bird's mandate is clear: to maximize refinery output and operational efficiency. He is known for a strategic, trading-led mindset that emphasizes high utilization rates, efficiency, and feedstock flexibility. This approach aligns with the Dangote Refinery's recent pivot to processing a wider range of crude grades, a necessity driven by limited availability of the Nigerian crude it was originally designed for.
Beyond optimizing operations in Nigeria, Bird has also articulated a broader vision for the company. He stated in a LinkedIn post that his focus will be on "advancing the group's footprint continent-wide" and positioning the Dangote Group as a "global market leader." This ambition goes beyond the Nigerian market and suggests a strategic push for expansion across Africa.
The appointment of David Bird comes at a pivotal time for the Dangote Refinery. Since its commissioning in January 2024, the 650,000 barrels-per-day facility has already made a significant impact on Nigeria's energy market by reducing gasoline imports. However, the company has faced a challenging domestic and regulatory environment. Bird's leadership and strategic acumen will be vital in navigating these complexities and solidifying the refinery's position as a dominant force in Africa's energy sector.
While Aliko Dangote will remain as the chairman of the refining business and CEO of the broader conglomerate, Bird's appointment as CEO of the fuels and petrochemicals division signals a dedicated focus on the refinery's operational success and future expansion. The industry will be watching closely to see how this experienced leader steers the Dangote Refinery towards its full potential.