Kate Roland
Leadership at Nigeria LNG Limited has formally changed hands, with Adeleye Falade assuming office as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, marking a new phase for the company as it advances key growth projects.
Falade took over on Wednesday at the company’s corporate headquarters in Port Harcourt, succeeding Philip Mshelbila, who has recently been appointed Secretary-General of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum.
His appointment was confirmed in a statement by Sophia Horsfall, General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, who highlighted Falade’s extensive industry experience and leadership pedigree.
Nearly Three Decades Across Global Energy Markets
Falade brings close to 30 years of experience in the global oil and gas industry, having built a career spanning upstream and midstream operations across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Russia, and Africa within the Shell Group.
Over the years, he has developed deep expertise in gas and petroleum operations, production optimisation, engineering, and operational excellence, alongside competencies in business transformation and change management.
His career has also been defined by leadership roles in complex, multinational environments, including joint ventures and culturally diverse teams across multiple geographies.
Track Record of Leadership Roles
Prior to his elevation to lead NLNG, Falade served as Managing Director of Brunei LNG Sendirian Berhad, a role he assumed in April 2024, where he oversaw strategic operations at one of the world’s established LNG producers.
In 2023, he was appointed Country Chair for Shell Namibia, providing strategic direction for the company’s activities and stakeholder engagement in the country.
Falade is also no stranger to NLNG. Between May 2019 and September 2023, he served as General Manager, Production, where he was responsible for ensuring plant reliability, operational safety, and consistent output across the company’s facilities on Bonny Island.
Earlier, he held the position of Operations Manager at NLNG from 2015 to 2018, overseeing plant performance before moving to The Hague as Regional Asset Management System Implementation Manager at Shell, where he led efficiency-focused system deployments across global assets.
Strong Academic and Professional Background
Falade holds a degree in Electrical/Electronics Engineering from the University of Ibadan and an MBA from Henley Business School, part of the University of Reading.
He is a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers and a registered member of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, as well as a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers.
Taking Charge at a Critical Time
Falade steps into the role at a pivotal moment for NLNG and the broader global LNG market. The company has recently secured long-term gas supply agreements with multiple third-party suppliers to strengthen feedgas availability for its operations.
This comes as the highly anticipated Train 7 expansion project approaches completion, a milestone expected to significantly increase production capacity and enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global liquefied natural gas market.
With his deep technical background and international leadership experience, expectations are high that Falade will steer NLNG through its next phase of growth while consolidating its position as a key player in the global energy landscape.