Austin Avuru, a co-founder of Seplat, was appointed Chief Executive Officer on 1 May 2010. He obtained a Geology degree from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 1980 and a post-graduate diploma in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria in 1992. Prior to joining Seplat, Mr. Avuru spent twelve years at NNPC beginning in 1980, where he held various positions including wellsite geologist, production seismologist and reservoir engineer. In 1992, he joined Allied Energy Resources in Nigeria, a pioneer deepwater operator, where he worked for the next ten years as exploration manager and technical manager. In 2002, Mr. Avuru established Platform Petroleum Limited and held the role of managing director until 2010, when he left to take up the CEO position at Seplat. He is also a director of MPI, which is listed on NYSE Euronext Paris. Mr. Avuru has served the oil and gas industry in various capacities including his work as the technical co-ordinator for the review of the industry’s memorandum of understanding, membership of the ministerial committee on the restructuring of the DPR and his role as a consultant to the Senate committee on petroleum resources between 2000 and 2003. He also chaired the technical subcommittee that drafted the policy blueprint which then formed the basis of the Nigerian Content Act of 2010.

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