Razon-led Prime Infrastructure Capital Inc. has recruited former BP chief executive Tony Hayward to its board, tapping a global oil industry veteran as it expands beyond the Philippines and builds a bigger energy portfolio.

The company confirmed on Wednesday that Hayward joined Prime Infra’s Board of Directors effective 10 August, months after the infrastructure company acquired SierraCol Energy, Colombia’s largest independent oil and gas exploration and production company.

The SierraCol acquisition in March marked a major step in Prime Infra’s international expansion, giving the company an upstream oil and gas platform outside its Philippine operations.

Hayward, who has chaired SierraCol since founding the company in 2020, will retain that role alongside his new board seat at Prime Infra.

“We welcome Tony to the Board. His decades of experience across the global energy industry, particularly in upstream and international markets, will bring valuable perspective as we expand our portfolio, integrate new platforms such as SierraCol, and pursue opportunities that can create long-term value for Prime Infra,” Prime Infra Chairman Enrique K. Razon Jr. said.

His appointment brings deep upstream and international deal experience directly into Prime Infra’s boardroom as the company looks for further growth opportunities across energy and infrastructure.

Hayward spent nearly three decades at British energy giant BP p.l.c., rising from rig geologist when he joined in 1982 to group chief executive from 2007 to 2010.

He later chaired Swiss natural resources giant Glencore from 2013 to 2021 and currently serves as chairman of several private companies.

“I am delighted to join the Prime Infra board as the company continues to expand its international presence,” Hayward said.

“Prime Infra has built a strong track record in developing and operating critical infrastructure, and I look forward to contributing my experience as the company pursues further growth across the energy sector and beyond,” he added.

Hayward holds a PhD from the University of Edinburgh and studied geology at Aston University in Birmingham. He is also a fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and a visiting professor at the University of Edinburgh’s School of Geosciences.