Bovard has more than 35 years of operational and managerial
experience in Iran’s oil industry, including more than two decades in senior
management positions within and outside the Petroleum Ministry. Much of his
career has been spent in operational and management units affiliated with the
National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), including the National Iranian South Oil
Company (NISOC), Maroun Oil and Gas Production Company, Iranian Oil Exploration
Operations Company and Iranian Offshore Oil Company.
Who is the caretaker petroleum minister?
Born on March 27, 1964, in Shushtar, Khuzestan Province, Bovard
has academic backgrounds in engineering and management. He holds a bachelor’s
degree in mechanical engineering from Ahvaz Faculty of Petroleum Engineering,
an MBA in executive management from Sharif University of Technology, and a
doctorate in management from Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz.
Bovard’s operational and managerial career
Bovard began his operational and managerial career in 1998
as executive in charge of the development of engineering and construction
projects, a position he held until 2006. Between 2001 and 2005, he served as
manager of special drilling projects, and from 2006 to 2009 he headed the
drilling department of NISOC.
From 2009 to 2011, Bovard was managing director of Maroun
Oil and Gas Production Company. In 2011, he was appointed managing director of
NISOC, Iran’s largest oil-producing company, serving in the position for three
years.
From 2014 to 2016, he served as managing director of Iranian
Oil Exploration Operations Company, affiliated with the Oil Industry Pension
Fund.
In 2016, Bovard became managing director of the Iranian
Offshore Oil Company, a position he held until 2019. His career subsequently
became more closely linked with NIOC. From 2019 to 2020, he served as an
adviser to the NIOC managing director.
From 2020 to 2024, Bovard was managing director of Arman
Engineering and Development Company, part of the Execution of Imam Khomeini’s
Order (EIKO) and affiliated with Tadbir Holding.
On Aug. 29, 2024, then-Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad
appointed Bovard as deputy petroleum minister and managing director of NIOC,
marking his return to a senior position at the national oil company.
Bovard’s more than three decades in the oil industry have
included experience in drilling, development projects, onshore and offshore oil
production management, and the management of NIOC.
After more than 35 years across various sectors of Iran’s
oil industry, Bovard is now serving as caretaker petroleum minister under
Article 135 of Iran’s Constitution.