Royal Dutch Shell has named Ben van Beurden, a 30-year company veteran, as its new chief executive in an unexpected appointment.
By James Titcomb: 9:21AM BST 09 Jul 2013
The Anglo-Dutch energy giant said on Tuesday morning that Mr Van Beurden, 55, will take charge at the start of next year, with current CEO Peter Voser remaining at Shell until May.
When Mr Voser stunned investors by resigning two months ago, Mr Van Beurden (pictured right) was not believed to be one of the frontrunners, with chief financial officer Simon Henry touted as a likely successor. Mr Van Beurden runs Shell’s downstream business, which sells petrol to consumers and industry, and is a relative unknown.
Other potential candidates had been Marvin Odum and Andy Brown, senior players in the more profitable upstream oil exploration and production business.
“Ben has deep knowledge of the industry and proven executive experience across a range of Shell businesses,†chairman Jorma Ollila said.
“[He] will continue to drive and further develop the strategic agenda that we have set out, to generate competitive returns for our shareholders.â€
Mr Ollila added that Mr Van Beurden was hired “after a comprehensive assessment and review of internal and external candidatesâ€
Mr Van Beurden joined Shell in 1983 and has had a number of different roles across the company. The Dutch national, who is married with four children, was made head of the downstream business in January.
In May, Mr Voser said he was leaving Shell after 29 years to pursue a “lifestyle changeâ€. The Swiss national has been chief executive for four years and is credited with rebuilding the company’s reputation since rejoining as chief financial officer in 2004 following a short stint at ABB.
Andrew Whittock, an analyst at Liberum Capital, said Mr Van Beurden is “not well known to the investment communityâ€, although it is “not a complete surprise the CEO role has rotated back to a Dutchmanâ€.
Royal Dutch Shell’s shares dipped on his appointment but rebounded to rise 14.5p, or 0.7pc, in early trading.
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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A head-cut image of Alfred Donovan (now deceased) appears courtesy of The Wall Street Journal.
