Leadership Team

Roles and Memberships Outside AET 

• Chairman, MISC Berhad
• Chairman, Pembangunan Sumber Manusia Berhad
• Chairman, Malaysian Maritime Academy Sdn. Bhd.

Biography

Datuk Abu Huraira Abu Yazid was appointed as Chairman of AET and Independent Non-Executive Director on 22 April 2024.
He is currently the Chairman of MISC Berhad. Other present appointments include Chairman and Director of Pembangunan Sumber Manusia Berhad and Chairman of Malaysian Maritime Academy Sdn. Bhd.

Datuk Abu was previously on the Board of United Overseas Bank (M) Berhad including Chairman of its Board Risk Management Committee and its Board Remuneration Committee.

He was the Chairman of the Social Security Organisation, Executive Director with Pos Malaysia Berhad and CEO of National Savings Bank while earlier in his career, held senior positions in Public Bank Berhad, Citibank Berhad, Chase Manhattan (now known as JP Morgan Chase) and Maybank.

He holds a Bachelor of Economics (Business Management) from the University of Malaya.

Roles and Memberships Outside AET 

• Board Member, various subsidiaries within the MISC and/or AET Group
• Chairman of the Advisory Panel at Malaysia Women in Energy 
• Committee member of The London P&I Club

Biography

Zahid Osman was appointed as Director of AET on 1 January 2020.

Effective from 16 August 2024, Zahid Osman was appointed as the President & Group Chief Executive Officer and Non-Independent Executive Director of MISC Berhad. 

On 1 October 2024, he was also appointed as the Vice President of Maritime, Gas & Maritime Business at PETRONAS. Previously, he was the President & CEO of AET from 1 June 2023 to 17 March 2025.

Prior to his current appointment, Zahid was the Vice President of Corporate Planning (2022-2023) and Vice President of Gas Assets & Solutions (2017-2021) at MISC Berhad.

Before joining MISC Berhad, Zahid served the Shell Group of Companies for over 20 years in the roles of Vice President of Venture Development at Shell Integrated Gas & New Energies (2016-2017) and Director of Gas Business (LNG & New Business Development) at Shell Malaysia Limited (2012-2015).

Zahid holds a Bachelor of Industrial Economics Degree from the University of Nottingham, United Kingdom and a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, United States of America. He attended a Management Programme on Strategy Creation by Columbia Business School in 2005.

Beyond his corporate roles, Zahid is a passionate advocate for gender diversity in the energy industry, serving as Chairman of the Advisory Panel at Malaysia Women in Energy (MyWiE). His influence extends across the energy sector where his thought leadership helps shape discussions around the future of energy, sustainability and gender inclusivity.

Biography

Ronald Bruce Blakely was appointed as Independent Non-Executive Director on 1 November 2016.

Ronald enjoyed a 38-year career with Shell, where he contributed in senior finance roles. He also served as a non-executive director on various boards in the oil and gas industry and services sector, held board appointments in several joint venture companies in different fiscal jurisdictions and supported the boards of not-for-profit organisations as a volunteer.

Ronald is a professional accountant with a CPA designation from the Chartered Professional Accountants of Alberta.

Roles and Memberships Outside AET 

• Sits on several corporate, non-profit and advisory boards in the USA:
• Independent, Non-Executive Director, Blackberry Government Solutions, LLC, Washington, D.C. USA
• Member, Board of Trustees, CNA Corporation, Arlington, VA, USA
• Member, Board of Trustees, Baldwin Wallace University, Berea, OH USA
• Independent Director, The International Spy Museum, Washington, D.C. USA
• Independent Director, Americares, Stamford, CT USA

Biography

Vice Admiral (Rtd) Peter Neffenger was appointed as a Director of AET on 15 November 2019. He also sits on several corporate, non-profit, and advisory boards in both public and private sectors within the USA.

Prior to these roles, Vice Admiral (Rtd) Neffenger had a distinguished 34-year career in the US Coast Guard (1981-2015). He also served as Administrator of the US Transportation Security Administration (2015-2017).

Vice Admiral (Rtd) Neffenger holds a Master of Public Administration from Harvard University, USA; a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the US Naval War College; a Master of Arts in Business Management from Central Michigan University; and a Bachelor of Arts from Baldwin Wallace University, USA.

Roles and Memberships Outside AET 

• Senior Accredited Director, Singapore Institute of Directors
• Appointed for the World Economic Forum and Climate Governance Initiative leader 2025 in ‘Mobilizing Climate Leadership in Complex Times’, Geneva Switzerland
• Member of the Global INSEAD Director Network
• Chairman, Nomination Committee and member Audit Risk Management Committee Independent Director to Jason Marine Group
• Senior Advisory Board Member of The Diligent Institute, NY, NY, USA
• Former US National Board Member of the Cancer Treatment Centers of America with regional hospitals across the USA
• Former Vice-Chairman, American Chamber of Commerce, Singapore
• Lifetime Fellow of Singapore Institute of Directors, Fellow of the Hong Kong Institute of Directors.

Biography

Colin Low has been appointed Director of AET since 15 November 2019. He is the current Chairman of the Nominations Committee, Member of the Audit Risk Committee, and the Independent Director to Jason Marine Group listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange.

In January 2022, Colin was appointed as the Advisory Board Member to the Diligent Institute in New York, USA, a think-tank in Corporate Governance ESG and global Board Director practices. 

Colin was previously the Investment Board Director of Fortune 500 firm GE (General Electric, USA) for the Asia Pacific Region (2005-2010): President of GE International and Regional Executive Growth Initiatives in the ASEAN region; Chairman and Investment Committee Chair of Singapore mainboard listed Intraco Limited (2014-2021). He served as the Managing Director of GE Aircraft Engines ASEAN in his earlier career at GE; he was CEO and later became Chairman of private equity firm Singapore Investment Development Corporation (2011-2020).

He was a member of the INSEAD University ASEAN Council (from 2008-2022). He proudly served as the US National Board Director of the Cancer Treatment Centers of America (2011-2018) with regional hospitals based in the USA; Vice-Chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in Singapore (2008-2014); Independent Director of OSIM International (2010-2016), Board Director of private equity firm BLG Asia; and a member of the Advisory Board Asia Pacific to global executive search firm, Spencer Stuart International.

Colin is a Lifetime Fellow of the Singapore Institute of Directors and attained certification as an International Board Director in 2013 and Leading from the Chair in 2014 from the INSEAD University in Fontainebleau, France. He was conferred as a Fellow of the Hong Kong Institute of Directors in March 2021. He was certified as a Board Climate Change Leader in April 2022 and graduated from the Board Cybersecurity and Strategy programme in June 2023. He holds a Master of Business Administration, a Bachelor of Science in Management (Honours) and a Bachelor of Science in Marketing (Honours) from the Southern Illinois University, USA.

Biography

Paula Porter was appointed as Independent Non-Executive Director on 1 January 2020.

She was previously the Chief People Officer of Carnival UK (2012-2019) overseeing HR across Asia, Europe and USA; Divisional HR Manager of B&Q (2003-2007); HR Director of The Body Shop in UK and Ireland (2001-2005); General Manager of Canadian Pacific (1999-2001); and Divisional Personnel Manager of Marks & Spencer (1984-1999).

Paula holds a Fellowship from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). She is a qualified senior coach in Business Development and Change Management and a certified Myers-Briggs assessor and coach with accreditations from CIPD. She has also attended the Institute of Directors’ Finance for Non-Financial Directors programme.

Nick Potter was appointed President & CEO of AET and Vice President, Petroleum & Products of MISC Group on 17 March 2025, joining the MISC Executive Leadership Team. Based in Singapore, he brings over 35 years of maritime and energy sector experience, having held key leadership roles in commercial, technical, and operational capacities.

Before joining AET, Nick served as Head of Shipping and Maritime for Asia, Pacific, and the Middle East (APME) at Shell, based in Singapore. Prior to that, he was Global Head of Maritime at BG Group in Houston. His career began at sea as an Engineering Officer, before progressing through various roles at Shell and BG, giving him a deep expertise in maritime logistics, including the tanker business.

Nick is actively engaged in shaping the future of the maritime industry. He is the Immediate Past Chairman of the Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF) and serves on the board of the Singapore Maritime Foundation. He is also a member of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS)'s Clean Energy Marine Hubs Task Force and a global ambassador for the Mission to Seafarers and WISTA Singapore. His advocacy extends to energy transition, maritime talent development, and seafarer welfare. Most recently, he co-chaired the Singapore Tripartite Advisory Panel for a Future-Ready Maritime Workforce.

Nick holds an honours degree in Mechanical and Marine Engineering and a master’s degree in Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering.

Winnie has over 20 years of experience in finance. Prior to joining AET in November 2020, Winnie held CFO and financial leadership positions with large multinationals in various industries, including technology, hospitality, publishing, legal research information solutions, and private investment.

She has held interim CEO and HR leadership roles that provided her a rich and broad experience in business strategy, corporate planning, controllership and compliance, corporate finance, driving transformation programmes, setting up and running shared services, and M&A.

Winnie is a qualified CPA with an MBA from the University of Dubuque in the US, and a Bachelor of Science in Commerce from the University of Santo Tomas in the Philippines.

Peter Liew leads the company’s global commercial business, overseeing Lightering Operations, Offshore activities, and strategic commercial initiatives. Based in Houston, he also represents AET across the Americas Region, including Houston, Galveston, and Rio de Janeiro, while serving as a key member of AET’s leadership team.

Peter began his professional maritime career with MISC as a Cadet Officer in 1984, rising to the rank of Master Mariner before transitioning ashore. Over the years, he has held numerous corporate leadership roles across AET and the MISC Group, including Head of Chartering, Regional Director, Commercial Director (Aframax – Atlantic), Global Director (Crude Petroleum Shipping), Global Director (MST Crude Shipping), Global Director (Business Development & Joint Venture Management). Most recently, he served as Managing Director/ CEO of MISC Marine.

Peter is also a board member across multiple MISC subsidiaries and holds a Master’s Foreign Going Certificate of Competency from the Ministry of Transport, Malaysia.

Linda has over 25 years of experience in Human Resources, including 15 years in leadership roles in blue-chip multinationals, non-governmental organisation and offshore oil & gas contractors with experience working in Middle East, Asia and Europe.

She brings with her a wide spectrum of knowledge and expertise in corporate human capital development practices. These range from aligning talent acquisition, organisation development, culture and change management strategies to formulation of diversity and inclusion & wellbeing initiatives HR strategies and policies that support delivery of business strategy and goals.

Linda has an MBA from the University of West London, she is a Certified Organisation Development Practitioner and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development (FCIPD).

Capt. Pavan assumed his current AET appointment on 1 April 2024.

He was previously Head of Commercial Operations and Chartering , GAS Business at MISC since 2020.

Capt. Pavan began his sailing career with Neptune Orient Lines Singapore and thereafter came ashore and joined CMA CGM Southeast Asia Regional office in 2001 as owner’s representative for terminal operations.

He later joined MISC as a Senior Manager, Commercial Operations in the LNG Business unit in 2008 and was appointed as Head, Ship Operations (Vessels and Floaters), LNG in 2013. He was posted to MISC Japan as Head, LNG Liaison Office (Japan/Korea/China) in 2016 and thereafter appointed as Head, Ship Operations and Contract Management in 2018.

He graduated from Singapore Polytechnic with a Diploma in Nautical Studies and Advanced Diploma in Maritime Transportation and holds a Master Foreign-Going Certificate of Competency from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore.

Rob Sullivan assumed his position as Global Director, Business Development & Technology as of 1 January 2024 and oversees the development of AET’s strategy in terms of business development and joint venture opportunities.

Rob joined AET as Global Director, Legal (General Counsel) from April 2022 but his role quickly expanded to include Business Development within 2023, utilising his leadership experience garnered from over 23 years in the energy and maritime industry.

Rob gained extensive Mergers & Acquisitions, Alternative Energy, Shipping and Trading experience from his leadership roles with BP working across the Americas, Asia and Europe.

Rob completed his Master in Shipping Law and International Trade (LLM) at the Institute of Maritime Law, University of Southampton, UK, prior to qualifying as a Barrister (Middle Temple) and then subsequently qualifying as a Solicitor of the Law Society of England and Wales.

Smriti Sharma currently serves as the Global Director for Strategy, Sustainability and Enterprise Risk Management at AET, a position she has assumed since October 2024. In this role, she is responsible for driving the company's strategy and sustainability agenda, ensuring alignment with business objectives, while managing enterprise-wide risk management and frameworks. Additionally, she is responsible for driving Business Improvement projects and managing Commercial Assurance.

Previously, Ms Sharma held senior roles at AET, including Director of Strategy and Sustainability, as well as Vice President and Assistant Vice President of Corporate Strategy and Risk Management.

Since May 2023, Ms Sharma has also been serving as a Director on the Board of the Malaysian Maritime Academy Sdn Bhd.

Before joining AET, Smriti held various roles in corporate strategy and planning, including Business Partner in the Corporate Planning Division at MISC Group and Manager of Corporate Strategy at Capgemini Consulting. Earlier in her career, she worked as a Senior Research Consultant at Infiniti Research (India), a Sales Manager at ICICI Lombard, and as a Graduate Management Trainee at Mahindra and Mahindra.

Ms Sharma holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Masters in Business Administration with specialisation in Marketing and Finance.

William (“Will”) Blagbrough serves as General Counsel & Chief Integrity Officer at AET, assuming the role on 1 October 2024. Based in Singapore, he oversees the company's legal and integrity functions, ensuring the highest standards of governance and compliance across AET's global operations.

Will studied Economics & Politics at the University of Durham (UK) before moving into law, spending 14 years in private practice at a leading international law firm and making partner in 2018. He joined AET in 2021 in Singapore as Head of Legal for Asia, before working in the CEO office at AET, then at MISC. Most recently, Will held the position of General Manager, Legal (Shipping & Maritime) at MISC, based in Kuala Lumpur.