Pakistan State Oil Company Limited (PSO) has appointed Mr. Jawwad Ahmed Cheema as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The company formally notified the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) about this decision today, April 13, 2026. Consequently, Mr. Cheema will officially take the office on May 18, 2026. He will serve a three-year term. Furthermore, he succeeds the current interim CEO, Mr. Abdus Sami.
A Legacy of Global Energy Leadership Coming to PSO
Mr. Cheema brings over 28 years of extensive experience in the downstream energy sector. Specifically, his background includes nearly two decades of corporate leadership. During this time, he managed operations across five countries in Asia-Pacific, Europe, and South Asia. His core expertise spans retail fuels, lubricants, storage infrastructure, and supply chain management. Moreover, he holds a proven track record of driving strategic transformation, organizational change, and large-scale business turnarounds.
26 Years of Driving Growth at Shell
Previously, Mr. Cheema spent 26 years with Royal Dutch Shell. He started in frontline retail operations in Pakistan and eventually reached senior global leadership positions. For instance, he served as the Managing Director and CEO of Shell Pakistan Limited. There, he successfully guided the publicly listed company through major strategic and operational transformations.
Later, he took on complex international roles. He served as the Vice President of Strategy & Portfolio at Shell International B.V. in The Hague. In this capacity, he optimized global downstream infrastructure and reconfigured supply chains. Additionally, as Vice President of Shell Business Operations in Singapore, he expanded the global workforce and consolidated operations. Earlier, he also successfully led Shell’s end-to-end retail fuels entry into the fast-growing Indonesian market as General Manager.
Strengthening Pakistan’s Energy Infrastructure
Most recently, Mr. Cheema worked as the CEO of Karachi Hydrocarbon Terminal (KHT) at Port Qasim. This strategic joint venture under VTTI B.V. manages Pakistan’s primary petroleum import and distribution terminal. Beyond his direct executive roles, he holds significant governance authority. He previously served as Chairman of the Board for Shell Pakistan Limited. Furthermore, he currently sits on the boards of Pakistan Refinery Limited (PRL) and Pakistan Arab Pipeline Company (PAPCO).
Ultimately, Mr. Cheema combines commercial sharpness with strict operational discipline. Therefore, he stands fully equipped to execute at scale and lead PSO through Pakistan’s regulated and highly complex energy landscape.
