With effect from April 1, 2024, Jim Swartz will serve as the new chairman and managing director of the Chevron Nigeria/Mid-Africa Business Unit, overseen by Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), the operator of the joint venture between the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited and CNL.
Swartz was vice president of Capital Projects, headquartered in Houston, Texas, before being appointed.
He offers a plethora of upstream business experience as well as a track record of successfully forming alliances with stakeholders.
After earning a Bachelor of Science in Geology from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Swartz went on to get a Master of Science in the same field from the University of Oklahoma. He began working with Chevron in 1990 as a geologist in Louisiana, and since then, he has held positions and progressive responsibilities in both the US and Angola.
He takes over for Richard (Rick) Kennedy, who served the corporation for nearly 40 years before deciding to retire.
Under Rick's considerate and cooperative leadership, the Chevron Nigeria/Mid-Africa Business Unit saw enhanced business results in his roles as chairman and managing director.
As head of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry's (LCCI) Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS), he oversaw industry engagements on the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and other industry initiatives, making a substantial contribution to the Nigerian oil and gas industry.
Rick was dedicated to promoting peace and the socioeconomic advancement of the Niger Delta as chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND).
