Nayara Energy appoints Teymur Abasguliyev as CEO amid sanctions shake-up

Abasguliyev succeeds Alessandro Des Dorides, who assumed the role in March this year. He had to resign shortly after the European Union imposed sanctions on the refiner as part of a new raft of measures against Russia over its war with Ukraine. 

With overall three decades of experience and more than two decades of diverse international leadership experience in the energy sector, Abasguliyev joins from SOCAR Türkiye Enerji A.Ş. He has been serving there as Chief Financial Officer for Group Companies since 2013. In his immediate role, he was overseeing corporate governance, financing, mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, and large-scale organizational restructuring. As a Fellow of the UK Association of Certified Public Accountants (FCCA) since 2002, he possesses deep expertise in financial strategy and international business leadership. 

Beginning his career in 1994 at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Teymur developed a strong foundation in global strategy. He subsequently spent 17 years at PricewaterhouseCoopers, advancing to senior manager and partner, where he spearheaded complex projects for major clients across Central and Eastern Europe.

Recognised for his strategic vision and results-driven approach, Abasguliyev has a proven track record across the energy value chain, encompassing refining, petrochemicals, gas distribution, trading, and infrastructure. He has led multibillion-dollar investments, transformative transactions, and has consistently built resilient, multicultural high-performing teams. Teymur is also a respected board member and mentor. Abasguliyev holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Department of International Relations and Law at Baku State University.