PT Pertamina makes groundbreaking choice

Indonesian national oil company PT Pertamina has gained two new officers, one of them the first female Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of a national oil company in Asia and the Muslim world. Karen Agustiawan’s appointment as the company’s president and director was approved by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on February 4, 2009. After working for several oil companies, she had served as former Pertamina President Ari Soemarno’s adviser before being promoted to director of Pertamina’s exploration and production division (E&P) in 2008. Also in February, Omar Anwar, head of upstream firm Rio Tinto P.L.C.’s Indonesian unit, was given the post of company vice president. (March 30, 2009)