MONROVIA, Montserrado – Musa Bility, the chief executive officer of SRIMEX Oil and Gas company, one of Liberia’s leading petroleum suppliers, stepped down on Thursday, November 30, leaving Wadei Powell in charge of the company.

Addressing a news conference at the SRIMEX head office on Capitol Bye-Pass, Bility said the company was taking one more step towards believing in Liberia.

According to him, Powell’s appointment would mark the achievement of Liberian women. He said his primary focus is ensuring that Powell is equipped to succeed.

While Bility said his decision to step down was difficult to make, he was doing so because “I do not have the capacity to hold on as CEO and it is only fair not to pretend.”

“After twenty years in one position, I feel that I have nothing to offer the company,” he added.

Bility cited some of his accomplishments as bringing investment into the company and ensuring that it was well managed.

“I have no doubt that Powell will do far better than what I did to make young Liberian women entrepreneur proud,” he said.

Bility indicated that the company is taking the next step to expand its services, reach out to customers, motivate its employees and have a better working relationship with its local and international partners. For those tasks, he noted that “Powell is the best person for the job.”

With Powell now taking over SRIMEX, Bility said he believes that Liberians will see a better and more responsible, customer friendly, and efficient company from now on.

Powell, who will become the only female chief executive officer in the petroleum industry, said she was fully cognizant of the “enormous task ahead of me” and intends to expand the company “in the direction Bility wants.”

“I believe my work will speak for itself and the changes will be that of what Bility anticipates,” Powell said.

Bility will move on to serve as chairman of the company’s board in addition to functioning as a special advisor to the management team.

Powell has a long history in management in Liberia. She is former vice president of administration and human resource officer of Cellcom GSM. Additionally, she previously served as general services manager at Firestone Rubber Plantation.

In 2003, SRIMEX was formed as a general trading group and imported commodities such as cement, electrical equipment, cooking oil, and milk powder. The company was granted a license in 2005 to import petroleum products, which extends to the distribution, commercial retail, bunkering, as well as oil exploration.

Featured photo by Zeze Ballah