Zahid Yoosufani assumed the role of director and unit leader for the Petroleum Extension Service (PETEX™) at the University of Texas at Austin.

As director, Yoosufani provides leadership to all components of PETEX including instructor-led training, publications and e-learning tools. PETEX is a department of the university's division of continuing and innovative education (CIE). Since its inception in 1944, PETEX has become a leading educator and a "trainer of choice" for workers at all levels of the oil and gas industry in both Texas and around the world, according to the release.

Yoosufani's appointment comes from Jeff Treichel, executive director, ad interim, of CIE. In addition to PETEX, CIE is comprised of the K-16 Education Center, Professional Development Center, Thompson Conference Center, University Extension, and University of Texas-University Charter School.

As interim director, Yoosufani achieved significant market growth for PETEX by introducing new training products and publications, enhancing customer service and growing the PETEX customer base worldwide. His international experience and engineering background, coupled with his deep understanding of global business and cultural environments, has allowed PETEX to penetrate new regions and form key alliances with several international companies. While Yoosufani managed all product and service lines over the last year, he was also instrumental in the development and launch of innovative e-learning tools and products such as e-books, streaming videos and animations, online skills analysis and assessment tools.

Yoosufani came to CIE in 2009 after serving 30 years at IBM where he held a variety of technology and management positions. His last position for IBM was senior advisor for IBM Global Services Market Intelligence Center of Excellence where he formed a worldwide community of IBM sales and marketing teams to define the needs for market information and leverage the resources for efficiency, speed and execution. Previous to IBM, he held positions in finance, as controller for ARA Services/Aetna Insurance in Hartford, Conn., and education, as chairman and assistant professor in the faculty of chemical and petroleum engineering at the Mehran University of Engineering & Technology in Pakistan.

Yoosufani earned a master's of science in manufacturing/mechanical engineering at the University of Massachusetts and a bachelor's of engineering in chemical engineering from the University of Karachi in Pakistan. He is also active in the non-profit sector where he volunteers to promote educational and training opportunities for the poor and support environmental causes in third world countries. He is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers.