Financial Times: Ollila appointment does not breach combined code but mocks its spirit
“Shell’s appointment of Mr Jorma Ollila as chairman of the newly unified company has been widely welcomed – not least by its institutional shareholders. It appears to have escaped their notice that Mr Ollila will remain chairman of Nokia…”
Tuesday 9 August 2005
By JAB Joll
Published: August 9 2005
From Mr J. A. B. Joll.
Sir, Shell’s appointment of Mr Jorma Ollila as chairman of the newly unified company has been widely welcomed – not least by its institutional shareholders. It appears to have escaped their notice that Mr Ollila will remain chairman of Nokia, though he is relinquishing the role of chief executive officer that he also currently holds.
Nokia is, of course, the jewel in the crown of the Helsinki stock exchange. Were it to move its principal listing to London, however, it would feature in the top 10 companies by market capitalisation – new Shell being number one or two.
One of the more puzzling strictures in the combined code on corporate governance debars anyone in future from chairing two FTSE 100 companies. Mr Ollila’s appointment, therefore, does not technically breach this rule, merely making a complete mockery of its spirit. Time for a rethink, perhaps?
J. A. B. Joll,London W11 2QS
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Royal Dutch Shell conspired directly with Hitler, financed the Nazi Party, was anti-Semitic and sold out its own Dutch Jewish employees to the Nazis. Shell had a close relationship with the Nazis during and after the reign of Sir Henri Deterding, an ardent Nazi, and the founder and decades long leader of the Royal Dutch Shell Group. His burial ceremony, which had all the trappings of a state funeral, was held at his private estate in Mecklenburg, Germany. The spectacle (photographs below) included a funeral procession led by a horse drawn funeral hearse with senior Nazis officials and senior Royal Dutch Shell directors in attendance, Nazi salutes at the graveside, swastika banners on display and wreaths and personal tributes from Adolf Hitler and Reichsmarschall, Hermann Goring. Deterding was an honored associate and supporter of Hitler and a personal friend of Goring.
Deterding was the guest of Hitler during a four day summit meeting at Berchtesgaden. Sir Henri and Hitler both had ambitions on Russian oil fields. Only an honored personal guest would be rewarded with a private four day meeting at Hitler’s mountain top retreat.
IN JULY 2007, MR BILL CAMPBELL (ABOVE, A RETIRED GROUP AUDITOR OF SHELL INTERNATIONAL SENT AN EMAIL TO EVERY UK MP AND MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS: 
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