Oil industry veteran David Woodward takes charge as Aabar CEO

Woodward has a total of 36 years of global oil industry experience including tenures in Abu Dhabi between 1987 and 1991 when he was the Deputy General Manager of ADMA-OPCO (Abu Dhabi Marine Operating Company) and during 1991 - 94 as the General Manager of ADCO (Abu Dhabi Onshore Operating Company).

Prior to his appointment as Aabar CEO, Woodward was President of BP Azerbaijan and oversaw oil and gas investments of US $20 billion in the Caspian. He has also served in various senior-level positions in Moscow, Alaska, Aberdeen as well as in supervisory and engineering roles in London and Norway.

Aabar's Chairman Sohail Al Mazrui said Woodward's appointment will enable the company to pursue its global exploration and production (E&P) goals with renewed vigour. "We are confident that David Woodward will provide quality leadership for Aabar and its subsidiaries and play a key role in integrating our operations and management. He comes in at a crucial stage when Aabar is poised for further growth in oil and gas exploration and production," he said.

"Aabar has made considerable progress over the last two years since it was established. I look forward to working with the Board in steering Aabar - a company with a strong management team, access to capital and global ambitions - to greater heights in the coming years", said Woodward.

Woodward obtained a Masters in Physics from the University of Sussex in 1970 after graduating in Applied Physics from the City University, London. He is a Chartered Engineer and has also completed a Management Development Program at the Harvard Business School in 1987. Woodward has received honours from the Georgia, Azerbaijan and the UK governments. Born in 1946, Woodward is married and has two children.