The board and management of FIRST Exploration & Petroleum Development Company (FIRST E&P) announces with heavy hearts, the passing away of Cornelis Christiaan (Cees) Uijlenhoed, the Executive Director, Commercial & CFO, FIRST E&P.
A strong inspiration to the workforce, Cees played a fundamental role in the creation of FIRST E&P, and over the past decade of the company’s existence, he has been instrumental in defining our vision and supporting the growth of the company.
His vision, strong work ethic, frankness, and unflinching drive for excellence was admired by many both within and outside FIRST E&P. He carried his drive for excellence and his large heart through to his work with the ‘Best in Rural KEFFES Education (BiRKE) Program in which he served as a mentor for children from our host communities.
Cees will be deeply missed by the entire FIRST E&P family, including the Board of Directors, executives and employees, as we collectively mourn this immeasurable loss.
Our heartfelt condolences and thoughts are with Cees’ family and friends in this very difficult time.
Funeral arrangements will be announced by the family in due course.
Cees’ Profile
An E&P professional with over 25 years’ experience with Shell International. Cees has held senior executive positions as the Finance Director for Shell Middle East and as Finance Director for Shell in Africa. Prior to joining FIRST E&P, he was Chief Executive of Sahara Upstream and Group, a Nigerian independent Oil & Gas company.
Cees has worked in various parts of the world including the Netherlands, the UK, Saudi Arabia, Chile, Dubai, and Nigeria (where he has worked most of his career).
Cees possesses global expertise in finance, treasury, supply chain management, strategy, planning and risk management. He obtained an economics degree at the University of Amsterdam (The Netherlands), majoring in Marketing and Planning, and completed a Strategic Executive Programme at Stanford University.
