KUALA LUMPUR: Petronas Dagangan Bhd

has appointed Azrul Osman Rani as its new managing director and CEO, effective Jan 1, 2020. According to the group, he is currently the head of commercial development and JV formation at Petronas Refinery & Petrochemical Corporation (PRPC) with a second role as CEO of PRPC utilities and facilities. A Petronas scholar, Azrul began his career at PDB’s Retail Business before making his mark as a trader at Malaysian International Trading Corporation Sdn Bhd (MITCO), marketing various petrochemical products for the Indonesia market. He became one of the youngest country managers appointed to lead various units within MITCO and other divisions within Petronas Group. From 2014 to 2018, he spearheaded the strategic negotiation that led to the formation of the joint venture between Petronas and Saudi Aramco within the Pengerang Integrated Complex, Petronas'largest downstream investment worth US$27bil. Azrul replaces Datuk Seri Syed Zainal Abidin Syed M Tahir in his new role as managing director and CEO. “Azrul has had an illustrative career in Petronas in the marketing and commercial segment, ranging from trading activities, mergers and acquisitions, as well as negotiations that will complement the dynamics of the business. "With over 23 years of experience in oil and gas business, I look forward to Azrul taking PDB to the next level of growth," said Syed Zainal.