Sempra Infrastructure announced on June 8 that Bhavesh "Bob" Patel will become the company's next Chief Executive Officer, with the appointment taking formal effect following the completion of the acquisition of a majority stake in the company by a consortium led by KKR. Patel will also join the board of directors of Sempra Infrastructure.
Patel brings nearly four decades of leadership experience in the global chemicals and energy sectors. He most recently served as President of Standard Industries and previously held the role of CEO at LyondellBasell Industries NV from 2015 to 2021, one of the world's largest plastics, chemical, and refining companies. During his tenure at LyondellBasell, Patel oversaw the construction of multiple world-class production facilities, drove expansion in Asian markets, and completed several strategic acquisitions. Earlier in his career, he spent approximately 20 years at Chevron and Chevron Phillips Chemical Company, holding leadership roles in Singapore and the United States.
The current CEO of Sempra Infrastructure, Justin Bird, will continue in his role until the acquisition closes. Following that, he will transition to the role of Executive Vice President at parent company Sempra and will remain a member of the Sempra Infrastructure board. Bird stated that Bob is an accomplished and highly respected global executive with deep experience leading complex energy, chemical, and industrial businesses, and believes he is the right leader to guide Sempra Infrastructure into its next chapter of growth.
This leadership transition comes as a consortium led by KKR prepares to acquire a majority stake in Sempra Infrastructure. The deal was announced in September 2025, and upon closing, the consortium will hold a 65% stake, Sempra will retain 25%, and the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority will continue to hold 10%. This transaction reflects the confidence of leading global investors in the company's vision and strategy.
A KKR partner noted that Bob's experience in leading large, global organizations makes him exceptionally well-suited to lead the company forward and help accelerate its long-term growth. Patel himself stated that Sempra Infrastructure is well-positioned to help meet the growing global demand for reliable energy resources and looks forward to building on this momentum in the years ahead.
Headquartered in Houston, Sempra Infrastructure focuses on energy infrastructure development in North America, with operations spanning liquefied natural gas, energy networks, and low-carbon solutions. The company is currently advancing several natural gas liquefaction and export projects, including ECA LNG Phase 1 and Port Arthur LNG Phase 1.
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