Iraq’s new Oil Minister Thamir Ghadhban reshuffled his senior leadership staff last week constituting the first big personnel move since obtaining the portfolio last October (MEES, 26 October 2018). The move saw all four of Iraq’s deputy minister positions (upstream, gas, refining and distribution) switched around, and most notably, Fayadh al-Nema returned to upstream head, the top deputy position. Mutasam Akram left the distribution post for gas, and Hamid Younis Salih left gas for refining. Three director generals were replaced as well.