A Different Perspective with Paul McDade CEO of Afentra plc

About this episode

Nick interviews Paul McDade about his extensive career in the oil and gas industry and his current ventures with Afentra plc.

This week Nick talks to Paul McDade Paul has over 35 years of international experience in the oil and gas industry, with nearly two decades as COO and CEO of Tullow Oil. He helped transform the company into a FTSE 100 business, driving growth across Africa, including the development of Ghana’s Jubilee field and major M&A activity. He holds a Master’s in Petroleum Engineering from Imperial College London and a BSc in Civil Engineering from the University of Strathclyde. Nick and Paul discuss Paul’s early life in Glasgow and his route into the oil and gas industry, including studying petroleum engineering at Imperial College and working in the North Sea, Colombia and Kuwait. Paul describes being taken hostage during the Gulf War, which he reflects on as a formative personal experience. He explains how he joined Tullow Oil in 2001 and helped grow it into a major African-focused company, making discoveries in Ghana, Uganda and Kenya, and building local supply chains and employment. He later became CEO, managing the company through major challenges including oil price crashes, debt, asset disputes and mechanical issues, focusing on strengthening the balance sheet and maintaining…

People in this episode

Host: Nick

Guest: Paul McDade

Topics covered

• oil and gas industry
• leadership
• energy transition
• M&A activity
• personal experiences
• African economy

Keywords

• oil and gas
• Afentra
• Tullow Oil
• Ghana
• energy transition
• M&A
• leadership
• Gulf War
• petroleum engineering

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Afentra plc, Tullow Oil

Places: Ghana, Colombia, Kuwait, North Sea, Africa

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