EXTRACTS FROM TWO ARTICLES: There are plenty of multinationals, too, such as Shell - which has extensive interests in Bolivia's lucrative gas fields. Morales nationalised a pipeline part-owned by the oil giant - not something the multinational took lightly. Enter Dwyer, infused with a sense of derring-do gleaned probably from the movies. He became associated with an unholy mix of right-wing nationalists and fascist 'freedom fighters'. And, conspiracy theorists take note, he met some of these unsavoury characters while working as a security guard for Shell, through a security firm employed on Shell's Corrib project in Mayo. Ironically, some of the media has been fretting lately about alleged republican paramilitary infiltration of the anti-Shell protests in Mayo, but a more serious issue appears to be right-wing paramilitary infiltration of Shell's security operations (see The Phoenix 8/5/09). Coincidentally, Shell has also been having difficulties in Bolivia as a result of Morales's decision last year to nationalise the country's main gas pipeline company. As a result of the Dwyer affair, some light has been shone on the fact that there is now in Ireland a large number of private security operatives supplementing and, in cases such as the Shell operation in Mayo, working closely with the Gardai. Many of these security men are from eastern Europe and, worryingly, security checks on foreign security operators working in Ireland are lax to say the least. The Private Security Authority issues licenses to firms and individuals involved in security work, but a spokeswoman admitted last week that it merely seeks a criminal record certificate and does not follow this up with any background checks for up to one-third of the 22,000 security operatives it has licensed.

Royal Dutch Shell is completing the last major offshore gas well at the Lunskoye platform in Russia’s sub-Arctic Sea of Okhotsk preparing the way for full production capacity of liquefied natural gas (LNG) at Sakhalin II, one of the world’s largest and most challenging integrated oil and gas projects.

RTE News

Eight people have been arrested for public order and trespass offences during a protest at the Shell compound at Glengad, Co Mayo.

Gardaí said over 100 protestors took part in the demonstration and attempted to gain entry through security fencing.

Protestors said over 200 people from the local community and the Rossport Solidarity Camp Summer Gathering were involved.

They claim Shell does not have planning permission for the compound.

News that the oil giant had overstated reserves in submissions to the US regulator, the Securities & Exchange Commission, led to the departure of Sir Philip Watts, the chief executive, and Walter van de Vijver, Shell's then exploration chief. It came as a serious shock to investors and left Shell's reputation – and share price – in such tatters that there was speculation it would be taken over by a resurgent BP. The FSA subsequently fined Shell for committing market abuse and breaches of the listing rules after making misleading statements between 1998 and 2004.

By Iain Percival

I have now caught up with the news / comments having returned from a most refreshing break at my home in Scotland – no internet connection which is good, for a while at least 🙂

My two pence of observations are as follows.

1. I have written on several occasions that Shell upstream is populated by many, many seriously good and dedicated technical professionals who wish for nothing more than (i)an interesting and rewarding career coupled with recognition for good / original / innovative contribution , (ii) progression based not on WHO you know but on what you know (capability) and demonstrable delivery of technical and / or commercial contribution, (iii)  courageous, knowledgeable & honest leadership, (iv) minimal burden of dealing with “stuff”, (v)association with a well respected company name (brand Paddy??). read more

Court documents allege that there was "a pattern of collaboration" between Shell and the military "to violently and ruthlessly suppress any opposition to its exploitation of oil and natural gas resources in the Niger Delta."

The need to adapt Shell to a lower oil price environment, partly through cutting thousands of jobs, is now Mr Voser's agenda. "Too consensus- oriented," he called a company whose culture he also hopes to change.

An Amsterdam court on Friday paved the way for pay-outs to commence in a settlement of Royal Dutch Shell’s oil and gas reserves misreporting scandal.

05.30.09, 11:04 AM EDT

LONDON, May 30 (Reuters) –Royal Dutch Shell Plc plans to cut 350-450 senior management roles as it restructures to cut costs and improve operational performance, according to a website to which Shell employees post internal information.

The cuts represent almost 30 percent of Shell’s ‘Senior Executive Group’ layer of management, John Donovan, the operator of the Royaldutchshellplc.com website said.

Earlier this week Shell announced a major restructuring but gave no targets for job or cost cuts. read more

Saturday 30 May 2009

(AFX UK Focus) 2009-05-30 15.04

LONDON, May 30 (Reuters) – Royal Dutch Shell Plc plans to cut 350-450 senior management roles as it restructures to cut costs and improve operational performance, according to a website to which Shell employees post internal information. The cuts represent almost 30 percent of Shell’s “Senior Executive Group” layer of management, John Donovan, the operator of the Royaldutchshellplc.com website said. 

Earlier this week Shell announced a major restructuring but gave no targets for job or cost cuts. read more

Sat May 30, 2009 9:49am EDT

LONDON, May 30 (Reuters) – Royal Dutch Shell Plc (RDSa.L) plans to cut 350-450 senior management roles as it restructures to cut costs and improve operational performance, according to a website to which Shell employees post internal information.

The cuts represent almost 30 percent of Shell’s “Senior Executive Group” layer of management, John Donovan, the operator of the Royaldutchshellplc.com website said. Earlier this week Shell announced a major restructuring but gave no targets for job or cost cuts.  read more

Reuters syndicated article: “Shell to cut 350-450 senior managers in overhaul – web site” published on 30 May 2009 by numerous sources including: –

New York Times

CNBC

Forbes

MSN Money

USAToday

BNET

Economic Times India

Straits Times Singapore

Interactive Investor

Brazil Globo

Reuters China

SINA.com (China)

Google Snapshot

REUTERS ARTICLE

Shell to cut 350-450 senior managers in overhaul – web site

Sat May 30, 2009 9:49am EDT

LONDON, May 30 (Reuters) – Royal Dutch Shell Plc (RDSa.L) plans to cut 350-450 senior management roles as it restructures to cut costs and improve operational performance, according to a website to which Shell employees post internal information. read more

Paddy Briggs

on May 30th, 2009 at 10:57 am 

Excellent Post by Guest1.

It is indeed “corruption” and the irony is that it got far worse under Jeroen who was meant to be sweeping away the dishonesty and the self-first mindset that characterised the Watts years. I’m genuinely puzzled by this. I knew Jeroen reasonably well and found him a decent bloke – at least back in the late 1990s and into the new millennium. He seemed devoid of ego at that time and was an effective if modest communicator with staff at all levels. He lacked charisma and didn’t strike me as very original or creative – but he didn’t seem a phoney. What on earth happened under the van der Veer leadership that has got Shell into its present mess? Jeroen was paid an order of magnitude more than even quite recent CEOs like Moody-Stuart. He must surely have been aware of the public affront at the Watts/Reserves scandal. And given Jeroen’s Dutch Christian background and his (apparently) personal austerity and principal what went wrong? Anyone who worked for Shell over these years (I didn’t) throw any light on this contradiction? read more

guest1: 

So, many people will go. This is inevitable since the numbers in the senior ranks grew out of all proportions. Since Herkstroter and Moody Stuart claimed in the mid 90s we were going to manage rather than do ourself this all started and now the ranks are swollen with self acclaimed managers who do not know what they are managing. So they are at the mercy of the consultants and service companies. And not only the numbers have swollen, there has been an inflation in the level of the jobs. Because if you have to manage rather than do, you are more important. Shell is now full of pointy haired bosses. And to top it all off: the number of senior jobs has increased, the levels of these jobs have increased but also the reward of the same levels has seen a dramatic increase in the more senior ranks. Couple that with the steep increase of especially american expatriates (the most expensive but also the most pliable ones) and it is obvious why costs have escalated beyond control. The corporate functions are now full of jobs with strange names that only shell insiders understand. A total disconnect with the rest of the outside world. (Example: Shell has no more reservoir engineers but ‘value creators’.) Drilling was the first with Drilling in the Nineties. Slogan: ‘When the rig goes, so goes the overhead’. The rigs came and went, the overhead only grew and the knowhow decined. Some 20 years ago the most senior driller was jgA. And good old Coen was on every brake in the world! Now there are umpteen jgB around who manage processes. After drilling, the rest followed. The results are evident. read more

By John Donovan

On Tuesday we published the article below. It was subsequently used as the source of multiple news reports around the world, including the lead front page article of the Financial Times newspaper published the following morning, Wednesday 27 May. 

Later that same day, an article published by ROMANDIE NEWS quoted a Shell spokesman as denigrating the veracity of the information in our article, describing it as “pure speculation.”  

Shell then rushed forward the release of incoming CEO Peter Voser’s reorganisation plans which confirmed our information was in fact accurate. We published a leaked email from Voser hours after he sent it to Shell employees announcing his plans. Fortunately, a number of news organisations had already published because they had confidence based on past performance, that our Shell insider sources are reliable.  read more

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

MAY 29, 2009, 9:53 A.M. ET

Edited Press Release

AMSTERDAM (Dow Jones)–The Stichting Shell Reserves Compensation Foundation Today announces Friday that the Amsterdam Court of Appeals has declared the Non-U.S. Settlement Agreement concerning the recategorisation by Royal Dutch Shell PLC (RDSB.LN) of certain of its oil and gas reserves binding.

The agreement provides relief in the amount of US$352.6 million to qualifying non-U.S. shareholders who bought Shell shares on any stock exchange outside the United States from 8 April 1999 through 18 March 2004. read more

SYDNEY (Dow Jones)--BP PLC (BP.LN) Friday said it has agreed to sell gas to Royal Dutch Shell PLC (RDSB.LN) and purchase it as liquefied natural gas after it has been processed through the Gorgon LNG project in Western Australia state.

EXTRACTS: A Dutch national has contacted me to express concern over a matter involving NAM, the company owned jointly by Royal Dutch Shell Plc and ExxonMobil Corporation. It may all be perfectly legal and a lucrative enterprise for the German companies involved, but is it ethical on the part of the NAM and the German companies bearing in mind potential exposure to the Dutch and German population during the long journeys involved and to the local populations in the relevant Germany cities where the processing takes place?

SHELL TO SLASH COSTS WITH GIANT JOBS CULL

Thursday May 28,2009

By Andrew Johnson

Royal Dutch Shell unveiled one of the most radical restructurings in its 119-year history yesterday in a move placing thousands of jobs at risk.

Incoming chief executive Peter Voser is aiming to slash costs, cut project overruns and speed up decision making through the overhaul announced yesterday following the departure of gas and power chief Linda Cook.

While the company disappointed the City by setting no targets for how much money will be saved, analysts said the annual figure would be in the high “£100millions, if not low £1billions in the next two years or so”. read more

Shell will also set up a new division to handle project delivery and technology. It will be led by Matthias Bichsel, who is also Swiss. Some Shell employees complained on their website Royaldutchshellplc.com that a "Swiss Mafia" is running the group.

Bloomberg.com

By Nadja Brandt

Royal Dutch Shell Plc (RDSA NA): An Amsterdam court is scheduled to rule whether a $353 million settlement with shareholders outside the U.S. following a restatement of proven oil and gas reserve estimates in January 2004 is binding. Shell was unchanged at 18.76 euros in Amsterdam.

SOURCE

Absent a settlement, a jury to be selected beginning Tuesday in lower Manhattan will be asked to reach a historic verdict that would make Royal Dutch/Shell the first foreign corporation found liable in a U.S. courtroom for aiding and abetting human rights violations by the forces of a foreign nation.

On 3 June former employees of the Shell Berre Petrochemical Refinery will mount a major protest at Shell’s Paris HQ – a photograph of a banner prepared for the protest is displayed.

The protest has been organised by a group of Shell unions. Background information about why 1600 French former Shell employees feel driven to protest against their treatment by Shell is contained in the letters which have been translated into English.  Because they contain extremely serious allegations against Shell, including fraudulent behaviour, we sent them to Royal Dutch Shell Company Secretary Michiel Brandjes on Monday. No reply has been received. Apparently this is one of the occasions when Shell feels it best to say nothing.  read more

The group has 102,000 people worldwide, and a spokeswoman said yesterday the new organisation would have a smaller workforce.

UNPO: Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization

Thursday, 28 May 2009

Supporters gathered around New York courthouse to rally for the Wiwa v. Royal Dutch Shell trial.

On what was supposed to mark the start of the Wiwa v. Royal Dutch Shell trial in New York City, over a hundred people showed up in front of the courthouse to bring attention to this historic case.  The trial opening has been postponed another week, but this did not damper the spirit of those present. 

The Turn The Heat Up On Shell rally, hosted by the Shell Guilty Coalition, drew supporters from far and wide and will reach an even further audience through the sizable press turnout.  In addition to speakers from Remember Saro-Wiwa, Oil Change International, Friends of the Earth, and Amnesty International, Ogoni natives who now reside across the U.S. joined the crowd of campaigners to deliver their personal messages of struggle and their hopes for this trial.  read more

By Alfred and John Donovan

On Monday we will publish Shell internal documents and correspondence with Malcolm Brinded providing evidence of how this brainy man,  who remains at number 2 in the Shell hierarchy, sanctioned corrupt practices, deceit, theft and other illegal action involving a conspiracy of Shell managers. This dishonest activity was also condoned by Richard Wiseman, the former Shell Legal Director now laughingly given the job of Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer at Royal Dutch Shell Plc. The Shell UK legal team Wiseman controlled played a key role in a corrupted Shell tender process.  read more

Shellwaar benjijnu?:

There used to be a “Swiss Mafia” running exploration in Shell. It now appears there is a Swiss Mafia just running Shell – full stop. I would like to know how Bichsel is uniquely qualified for his new position. He has absolutely no track record in project delivery. However he does have one of non-delivery. As head of the now defunct Deep Water Projects entity based in Houston he missed milestone after milestone with the Bonga project whilst his staff produced endless powerpoint slide presentations on what an outstanding success the entity was. He would brook no challenge whatsoever and was protected from criticism by the leadership cabal (who of course knew Bichsel was a favored child destined to join their ranks). On taking over the EP Technology organisation in 2006 he made life hell for the then head of Upstream R&D – a genuine (real Shell as was) technical professional – but who had the temerity to disagree with his new all-knowing superior.It appears the ethnic cleansing of the Dutch at the top of the company is mission accomplished. Are we expected to believe that there are no Dutch nationals in the company with the magic Shell “X Factor” required to lead the organisation? I can think of at least one better qualified to lead the Projects and Technology organisation. However, I will be generous and believe Bichsel is merely keeping the position warm for him! Finally, attempting to mirror ExxonMobil will not work. That organisation only promotes individuals into leadership positions on the basis of proven track record of delivery and genuine expertise in the domain they have been asked to lead read more

Swiss Mafia Running Royal Dutch Shell

Posted by “Shellwaar benjijnu?” on our Shell Blog: 2009/05/28 at 07:30

There used to be a “Swiss Mafia” running exploration in Shell. It now appears there is a Swiss Mafia just running Shell – full stop. I would like to know how Bichsel is uniquely qualified for his new position. He has absolutely no track record in project delivery. However he does have one of non-delivery. As head of the now defunct Deep Water Projects entity based in Houston he missed milestone after milestone with the Bonga project whilst his staff produced endless powerpoint slide presentations on what an outstanding success the entity was. He would brook no challenge whatsoever and was protected from criticism by the leadership cabal (who of course knew Bichsel was a favored child destined to join their ranks). On taking over the EP Technology organisation in 2006 he made life hell for the then head of Upstream R&D – a genuine (real Shell as was) technical professional – but who had the temerity to disagree with his new all-knowing superior.It appears the ethnic cleansing of the Dutch at the top of the company is mission accomplished. Are we expected to believe that there are no Dutch nationals in the company with the magic Shell “X Factor” required to lead the organisation? I can think of at least one better qualified to lead the Projects and Technology organisation. However, I will be generous and believe Bichsel is merely keeping the position warm for him! Finally, attempting to mirror ExxonMobil will not work. That organisation only promotes individuals into leadership positions on the basis of proven track record of delivery and genuine expertise in the domain they have been asked to lead. read more

A FORMER Army bomb disposal officer has warned of “horrific” consequences for civilians in and around Rossport if an onshore gas pipeline serving the Corrib gas project should rupture and explode.

Shell’s CEO designate Peter Voser would have to have been terminally naïve to assume that his extraordinary internal Email to staff would not immediately be placed in the public domain – as indeed it was within minutes of its transmission. Assuming that Voser knew exactly what he is doing let’s analyse what this message means for Shell’s battered stakeholders.

The fact that Voser chose to send out the Email when there is a still a month to go before he takes over as CEO is remarkable – and crassly insensitive to the feelings of the current man in charge Jeroen van der Veer. Van der Veer will no doubt also be aggrieved that the tone of the Email is so fiercely critical of the Shell of today – a Shell that has been moulded over the past six years by his efforts. Outside stakeholders will also want to ask why, if things at Shell are quite so bad as Voser says, van der Veer has been remunerated to the extent of around 10million Euros a year, why he is to receive a pension of well over one million Euros a year and why his contract with Shell was extended well beyond the normal Shell retirement age of 60. read more

Royal Dutch Shell has unveiled the most the radical restructuring of its operations for decades in a move that will impact over 24,000 jobs.

Up to a third of senior management under threat

By Sarah Arnott

Thursday, 28 May 2009

Hot on the heels of the surprise resignation of top executive Linda Cook, Shell’s in-coming chief executive Peter Voser announced major restructuring plans yesterday that could cut thousands of rank-and-file jobs.

Some 24,000 staff at the Anglo-Dutch oil giant will be affected by the changes, with job losses expected to be in the thousands. Up to a third of senior management are believed to be under threat.

There are three major structural changes. The company’s three upstream businesses – exploration and production (EP), gas and power (GP) and oil sands – will be combined into two, new regional units: Upstream Americas and Upstream International. Mr Voser is also creating an entirely new “Projects & Technology” division which will manage everything from R&D to project delivery to contracting and procurement. Finally, some parts of Shell corporate are to be absorbed into specific business units, while the rest is streamlined under a single combined human resources (HR) corporate director role. read more

More than 10,000 jobs at Royal Dutch Shell are under threat as Peter Voser, the oil giant’s new chief executive, announced a radical shake-up of the company.

In a series of moves designed to slash billions of dollars from Shell’s cost base and sharpen its focus in an era of low oil prices, the company said it was merging three divisions into two, creating a new one charged with project management and trimming the number of executive directors on its board from five to three.

“Organisationally, we are too complex, and our culture is still too consensus-oriented. Our costs are simply too high,” Mr Voser told staff in an e-mail before briefing 200 senior executives on the plans at a special meeting in Berlin. read more

Senior jobs are on the line at the oil company as the incoming chief executive unveils an efficiency drive

Up to 200 Shell executives from around the world flew to Berlin this week for an unusual two-day meeting.

The gathering, which began on Tuesday, offered a final chance to bid farewell to Jeroen van der Veer, the mild-mannered Dutchman who has steered Shell through some rocky times over the years. The chief executive is due to retire next month but the mood was hardly celebratory, for his replacement, Peter Voser, has wasted no time in making his mark.

The executives were also in Berlin to hear Mr Voser outline his plans yesterday for a radical overhaul at the world’s second-largest listed oil company. This will involve thousands of job losses, including many of their own. read more

Daily Mail

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 10:37 PM on 27th May 2009

Not so slick: Job cuts look imminent at Shell

Thousands of jobs are at risk at Royal Dutch Shell as incoming chief executive Peter Voser announces a sweeping reorganisation. 

The Swiss chief executive-elect is merging Shell’s Exploration & Production, Gas & Power and Oil Sands businesses into two super-divisions. 

On top of that, Shell is creating a Projects & Technology unit that will spearhead big new developments.  read more

While Peter Voser’s plans for Royal Dutch Shell have received widespread praise for their focus on cost-cutting and operational performance, they still leave important questions unanswered.

Its reliance on Canada's costly and environmentally toxic oil sands remains a blight on its brand rather than an asset. The situation in Nigeria is as tragic and dysfunctional as ever.

By SAM FLEMING
Last updated at 11:53 PM on 26th May 2009

Going: Linda Cook will leave Shell after nearly 30 years working for the firm

A management shakeup is looming at oil giant Royal Dutch Shell as anointed chief executive Peter Voser prepares to take the helm. 

Shell yesterday announced the sudden departure of gas & power chief Linda Cook, who has been at the company for almost three decades. Cook will step down from the board next week and then leave her post at end of June. 

The surprise decision is thought to be a prelude to wide-ranging changes at the top, as Swiss-born Voser succeeds Jeroen van der Veer as chief executive. read more

Linda Cook, the head of Shell’s gas business, resigned abruptly yesterday, the first boardroom casualty at the hands of Peter Voser, the new chief executive of the oil company.

Mrs Cook, who fought Mr Voser for the top job, is leaving after a “mutual decision” with the new boss and is forgoing an £800,000 loyalty bonus because she is quitting before 2011. It is believed that Mr Voser, who is stepping up from chief financial officer, is in the process of choosing his new leadership team.

Mrs Cook’s departure comes as four large institutional investors were understood to have grown frustrated with her. They are thought to have found her grasp of the business outside her immediate gas operations to be “underwhelming”. read more

In an e-mail to staff, he said the company was organisationally too complex, and its culture “too consensus-oriented”. He said his objectives were to cut costs, speed up large projects and make Shell “a simpler place to work”.

Goodbye

Shell is completely different to do. Not only without Linda Cook yesterday unexpectedly steps, but with substantially fewer people. How many jobs are lost, Shell would not say, but a spokesman in the United States told AP that the 2000 jobs at headquarters in The Hague under pressure.

According to the blog royaldutchshellplc.com are mainly supportive, administrative and IT staff. There are also rumors that 30% of Management lost his job as Shell denies. However, in a leaked e-mail that Peter Voser sent to staff this morning that “fewer people will take more strategic decisions. read more

Tuesday, royaldutchshellplc.com site, hosted by former employees against the direction of the oil company, had argued on the basis of internal sources as the new boss of Shell would cut a third of senior management positions. "Inevitably, there will be fewer jobs, but Shell did not set a goal in the subject, provided his side a spokesman for the group to AFP, calling the assertions of royaldutchshellplc.com of "pure speculation".

Printed below is a leaked self-explanatory email from Peter Voser. I don’t know why Shell executives do not include us in the circulation list to cut out the middleman. The 29 year contribution of Linda Cook seems to have been forgotten before she has officially departed.

A big restructure of Royal Dutch Shell by its incoming chief executive Peter Voser has been confirmed and it is set to affect 24,000 jobs, although the company will not say exactly how many of those jobs will be cut.

Up to 24,000 jobs are at risk in Shell after the Anglo-Dutch oil group unveiled plans for a major restructuring.

The oil giant this morning revealed a shake-up in which its exploration and production, gas and power and oil sands units are to be merged into two new divisions.

27.05.09