Members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) reached a consensus at a special conference held today (Monday, January 3, 2022) on election of Haitham al-Ghais as the organization's Secretary General.

Al-Ghais replaced Nigerian Sanusi Barkindo, whose is due to step down at the end of July next year.

Born in 1944, Mr. Barkindo took OPEC’s top job in mid-2016 and was granted a second three-year term in 2019.

Representatives of Kuwait also held the post before the election of Haitham al-Ghais as OPEC Secretary General in 1965 and 2005. Ashraf Lotfi served as secretary general for one year in 1965 and Sheikh Ahmad Fahd al-Ahmad al-Sabah was the body’s secretary general in 2005.

Multilingual Oil & Gas sector executive with 30 years of International experience, Mr. al-Ghais worked in International Oil and Gas Sales and Marketing as well as business development with regional and international experience acquired by holding key company positions in Kuwait, Beijing, and London. He is experienced in leading international and regional teams with vast knowledge and experience in market research and analytics. He has also held several positions in OPEC key bodies and supporting inter-governmental committees.