Gulf Keystone has appointed Nadhim Zahawi as Chief Strategy Officer.

Mr Zahawi is joining Gulf Keystone's management team and will be responsible for the evaluation of strategic options for the Company, reporting to CEO Jón Ferrier.

Mr Zahawi, 48, is of Kurdish origin, and moved from Iraq to the UK in his childhood. He has maintained contact with the Kurdistan Region of Iraq throughout his extensive career.

He graduated from University College London with a BSc in Chemical Engineering before going on to have a successful career in business. This included his early career as European Marketing Director for Smith & Brooks Ltd, and then as the co-founder and former CEO of YouGov, the international market research firm which listed on The London Stock Exchange's AIM market in 2005. Mr Zahawi has held a number of advisory roles in the Oil & Gas sector.

He has been a Conservative Member of Parliament for Stratford-on-Avon since 2010. Given Mr Zahawi's parliamentary commitments, he will work with Gulf Keystone on a part time basis. The Chief Strategy Officer position is not a Board appointment.

Tags: Gulf Keystone Petroleum