Ademola Adeyemi-Bero is a distinguished energy industry leader with 38 years of experience across diverse roles and geographies. He is the Founder, Chief Executive Officer, and Managing Director of FIRST Exploration & Petroleum Development Company Limited (FIRST E&P), a Nigerian independent energy company established in 2012.
In addition to spearheading FIRST E&P’s pursuit to build a sustainable integrated energy business, Mr. Adeyemi-Bero serves as Nigeria’s Governor to OPEC and the Chairman of OPEC’s Board of Governors, where his leadership is instrumental in shaping the global energy landscape.
Prior to embarking on the entrepreneurial journey with FIRST E&P, Mr. Adeyemi-Bero served as the President and Managing Director of BG Nigeria, a subsidiary of the British Gas Group. During his time there, he successfully built an upstream exploration and production company as well as an integrated gas business. He also had an illustrious 20+ year career with Shell, where he held technical, commercial, and business leadership roles across multiple countries.
Widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s foremost oil and gas professionals, Mr. Adeyemi-Bero is known for his integrity, strategic vision, and unparalleled leadership experience. His career spans both the Nigerian and international energy markets, making him a key figure in shaping the industry’s future.
Mr. Adeyemi-Bero also serves on the boards and governing councils of several independent organizations, where he applies his extensive experience, strategic insight, and business acumen to drive their growth and success. He holds a BSc in Offshore Civil Engineering from Heriot-Watt University, Scotland, an MSc in Petroleum Engineering from the Imperial College of Science & Technology, University of London and an Executive MBA from IMD Lausanne, Switzerland and Wharton Business School.