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Paddy Briggs

Peter Voser’s message to Shell staff presages a gloomy future for all of Shell’s employees and stakeholders

Posted on May 28th, 2009 by Paddy Briggs

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

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Former Shell Exec Paddy Briggs comments on Linda Cook departure

By Paddy Briggs

Cook’s departure is ego-driven. She lost out – so she walks away in a huff. But then that’s what you do when the only thing that matters is self-aggrandisement. What charecterises Shell head honchos in recent times is that it is all about self. Power, position, perks and obscenely inflated bonuses and rewards – and to hell with the business or the tradition or the history of this once great company and once respected brand. And to hell with the stakeholders as well. Suppliers, Partners, local communities, employees, pensioners and society at large are the disposable small fry in the selfish and self-centered world of Van Der Veer, Cook, Brinded and the rest. read more

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Shell’s institutionalised delusion

Comment by former Shell Exec Paddy Briggs on: “Climate change summit hijacked by world’s biggest polluter Shell, critics claim”

Paddy Briggs

on May 25th, 2009 at 9:36 am 

Another example of Shell’s institutionalised delusion that they are a player in the debate on the global energy future. At its most venal this was characterised by the dysfunctional and disingenuous corporate advertising of recent times that tried to suggest that Shell really cared about the energy mix and supported the development of renewable sources. Shell’s inevitable and predictable recent withdrawal from her Renewables business showed what a farce this was. read more

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The origins of Shell’s communications failures

I have posted on YouTube (follow link below) a video which students of Shell’s descent to a position where their management is now held in derision and contempt not just by activists but also by the business world and by the community at large will I hope find useful. It dates back to 1996/7 when the degree of internal confusion about the company’s role in the world was visible to all of us in the company – wherever we were working.

This video (which I think is self-explanatory) is not a parody – it is for real. Essentially what it reveals is that those at the top had no understanding of reputation management and that they felt that a series of slick public claims about Shell’s raison d’être could wipe away the stains of years of selfish neglect. Remember this is now well over ten years ago – and since then things have got immeasurably worse. read more

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The current Shell leadership – “mediocrity is the best they can achieve”

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The recent “Financial Times” report about Shell has received publicity here and elsewhere but it deserves further wide circulation so I have posted an extract below.

I was in touch with a former very senior Shell man (now retired) this week and he told me (I quote):

“It is scandalous that the [Shell] ‘Leadership’ voted themselves such huge salaries and bonuses. As XXX put it, they pay themselves something like an order of magnitude more than the directors of 10 to 15 years ago. I would mind less if they were a little more than mediocre, but … mediocrity is the best they can achieve.” read more

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Shell Pension Fund Smoke & Mirrors

EXTRACT FROM EMAIL RECEIVED FROM JONATHAN MORT, LEGAL ADVISOR (AND MANAGER?), SHELL SOUTH AFRICA PENSION FUND: It is apparently my draft response (per the email of 15 February 2009) to Mr Purchase (on 18 February 2009) which has driven you to the conclusions of conspiracies, collaborations and unethical conduct so liberally sprinkled through your article. The truth is more mundane, entirely proper, and (sadly for your website) considerably less newsworthy than the spectacular claims made in your draft article.

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GREENWASH – The drama and the reality

Posted on April 2nd, 2009

by Paddy Briggs 

“He’s a PR man. For an oil company. That’s bottom of the list!

 Below TV evangelist. Just above child molester.”

Michael in “Greenwash” by David Lewis

I have just been scanning through the last seven editions of “The Economist” newspaper – and as always it’s a very good read. And in these troubled times it is arguably an essential source to inform about what really might be going on in the world. The pointers to today’s realities come from The Economist’s excellent but anonymous correspondents, the letters and especially for the advertisements – or at the moment the lack of them.  The good news is that the “Greenwash” ads, which featured strongly in the newspaper until recently, have vanished! A year or so ago, and for some years before that, upmarket print media was full of mostly disingenuous corporate advertising from oil and energy companies with a common theme. In short Shell, BP, Total, Chevron and even ExxonMobil wanted to convince their “special publics” (as Shell called us) that they were public-spirited companies. In particular the message was that they had a unique contribution to make to the resolution of the world’s energy problems – global warming and all that. A common message was that the “proof” that Shell and the rest really cared was their alleged commitment to not just their traditional oil and gas businesses but also to a whole raft of non-traditional energy initiatives such as renewable forests, solar, wind, hydrogen and the like.  It wasn’t just former oil company insiders like me who were sceptical of these claims – all the NGOs and most of the other proponents of Renewables saw through the chimera and christened it “Greenwash”. read more

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EMAIL FROM JOHN DONOVAN TO MICHIEL BRANDJES, COMPANY SECRETARY & GENERAL COUNSEL, ROYAL DUTCH SHELL PLC: SENT 25 MARCH 2009

Printed below is a draft article. It contains my interpretation of the information contained in email correspondence supplied to me by Shell SA retiree, Mr Ken Purchase. No doubt you will advise if any of the emails are not authentic. If I do not hear from you by close of business on Friday 27 March, I will take it that there is no dispute or challenge over authenticity, stated facts, nor my interpretations or conclusions, and will state as such.

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Royal Dutch Shell and Royal Bank of Scotland to merge

Posted on March 31st, 2009

by Paddy Briggs  RDS and RBS to merge

BY

Flora Poi

The leaked news, yet to be confirmed but buzzing around the City, that the two regal corporations Royal Bank of Scotland and Royal Dutch Shell are to merge has caught analysts and legislators off their guard. The idea that a failing bank and a struggling oil company should pool there resources seems extraordinary – but no stranger than the bizarre train of circumstances that has led to this apparent accord. The further leaked insider information that the two beknighted ex-CEOs of Shell and RBS, Sir Philip Watts and Sir Fred Goodwin, are to be jointly tasked with the creation of the new global giant has rocked the city to its foundations “It’s as if Lehman Brothers went bust” one insider said over a large glass of Château Margaux 1986. read more

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Risk and reward? In Shell there is no link…

I mentioned a short while ago in an article featured on this website and elsewhere that the remuneration ratio between a mid level executive like me in Shell when I was last employed by the oil giant seven or so years ago was 10:1. The top man in Shell was paid ten times what I as a middle ranking employee was paid. I never had a problem with this. Today that ratio has risen to an astonishing 50:1 – the greedy Executive Board of Royal Dutch Shell pay themselves rewards that bare no comparison with what their predecessors of less than ten years ago were paid. Obscene? Of course. And a root cause of Shell’s current dysfunctionality and troubles as well – the evidence would suggest so. read more

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Shell and the shocking bonfire of its vanities

Does this story mean that you can’t believe a thing that Shell tells us in its communications? Sadly I think that it does and that it will be a long time, if ever, before you can believe a word that they say again.

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The scandal of the grotesque rewards that accrue to failed executives

Enron, Lehman Brothers, Royal Bank of Scotland…Royal Dutch Shell – what have these corporations got in common? Quite a lot actually but what I was thinking of in particular is that they all have issued glossy and self-promoting documents extolling their “Corporate Social Responsibility” (CSR) – and all of them have been brought to their knees by the grotesquely dysfunctional actions of their most senior executives.

I have written before about the illusionary myth that is CSR and I suppose that the one good thing that might come out of the global financial crisis is that none us will ever again trust the disingenuous garbage that corporations choose to throw at us from time to time. The idea that, say, a tobacco giant like BAT can be socially responsible is absurd but they still peddle this nonsense even though they surely can’t expect us to believe it. Do they really believe it themselves? – I doubt it. read more

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Shell following Paddy Briggs advice in New Zealand?

One of New Zealand's biggest petrol brands, Shell, is considering selling most of its New Zealand operations.

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Live Chat Posting by former Shell Exec Paddy Briggs: “the greedy b******s at the top of Shell…”

PADDY BRIGGS REPLY TO LIVE CHAT POSTING BY “GUEST ABC”:

Quite why small shareholders, including the many of us who got our shares through staff schemes, should not qualify for the compensation payment is quite unclear. I filled in the forms properly and they were initally rejected. I replied pointing out that I had given all the information required my next letter from Shell’s lawyers told me that I didn’t qualify anyway. So why did they write to me in the first place? 

In response to the post by “Guest ABC” it would certainly be impossible for Shell to rob the UK pension fund in the way that he suggests (a la Maxwell!). Whatever else the greedy b******s at the top of Shell might do I think that even for them that would be a step too far! I hope that I am right! read more

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More on Shell diddling shareholders already defrauded by Shell

You recently posted something on ‘Shell still diddling shareholders’. I have a similar experience.

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Time for cost-cutting at Shell – again!

Times of economic difficulty are the times that the macho micro-managers in Shell like best of all. Because then they can show their machismo by wielding cost-cutting axes almost with impunity – it’s happened many times over the years and it always follows the same pattern. First there is an announcement unusually couched in slogans about the need for “greater efficiency” or “More focused business” or “delayering” then we get the call to arms and the “challenges” – these are pretty unsophisticated – usually with some finite value target such as “reduce costs by 15% minimum”. Then reality kicks in with the realisation that reducing costs means employing less people as much of the rest of the cost base is not very suitable for more than a bit of cosmetic trimming on the margin. Maintenance and repair budgets always suffer so the petrol stations start to look a bit dowdy and the repainting schedule at installations gets extended again. Expenditure that protects Heath and Safety should be immune from these attacks – but as we have seen over the years there are too many shocking examples of where Health and Safety has been put at risk because maintenance budgets have been cut.The buzz word that is often used when the cost-cutting imperative comes to the fore is “discretionary” expenditure. As the term suggests this is supposed to describe things that you would perhaps like to spend your money on but don’t absolutely have to – at least in the short term. This tends not to be the bonuses of the high priced help, although it certainly should mean these. It very often does mean expenditure for which the benefit is difficult to quantify in the short term and for which the payback may not be easily expressed in monetary terms. Advertising and other communications expenditure is a classic example of this. read more

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How will Shell respond to the threat of an ExxonMobil takeover?

Given the likely horror in London and The Hague and the equal dismay in Brussels we can expect some swift defensive manoeuvres to be soon under discussion. Prime amongst these has to be the oft trumpeted merger of Shell and BP into one seriously big and European managed corporation.

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Live Chat debate initiated by Iain Percival, retired Royal Dutch Shell Global Chief Petroleum Engineer

But having said all this, you are right again that the SEC now themselves should be doing some major ‘mea culpa’ for not overseeing the real criminals in the finance world. Our beloved leader of the past, the borne again christian Philippus Watts, would have made a great investment banker. And he will still occupy a seat next to the likes of bishop Mugabe in his afterlife. And it will be hot there!

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Royal Dutch Shell Pension Fund Meltdown

NETHERLANDS – The Dutch pension fund of Anglo-Dutch oil giant Shell has seen its funding ratio plummet 160% to 85% in less than a year.

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Royal Dutch Shell Pension Fund Machinations

On 12 December news surfaced that the Dutch pension fund of Royal Dutch Shell is heavily in deficit, with a 40% plunge in value as a result of share market turmoil. A $45 million exposure to the "Madoff" fraud was revealed a few days later following speculation surrounding the stability of the fund.

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Email to Richard Wiseman, Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer, Royal Dutch Shell Plc: Alarmed Shell Pensioner

Since you have kindly recently answered questions raised by me on other subjects, I feel sure you will want to deal with this matter which is of great concern to Shell pensioners. You might also wish to comment on the related posting by former Shell exec Mr Paddy Briggs.

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Shell pensioner Poverty

A reliable source confirmed today that of the approximately 30,000 Shell pensioners in the UK some 5,000 (17%) worked for Shell for 20 years or more, but are in receipt of pensions of £10,000 per annum or less. (In addition they will mostly be in receipt of the State pension and some may get additional State benefits). It is likely that a substantial proportion of these Shell pensioners will have total incomes below the statutory UK minimum wage which is currently approximately £12,500 per annum. read more

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Shell scores low in “The Good Companies Guide”

Of the 350 companies in the FTSE350 index I suspect that Royal Dutch Shell probably spends more on corporate advertising than most. Over the past few years there was been a steady stream of advertising messages which seek to persuade, in particular, that Shell is driven to a large extent by its commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). However the result of the recent study by the (London) Observer newspaper together with “Co-operative Asset Management” shows that the rhetoric in no way matches the reality. read more

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Nationalisation of ExxonMobil and the rest as the spoof “New York Times” said? It could happen!

A few weeks ago I argued on Blogger News Network that there was a growing case for extensive intervention by Western Governments in the energy sector in general and in the oil industry in particular.

The candidates in the US Presidential Election all said that America must move towards energy independence and here in Western Europe, including the United Kingdom, there is a similar urgent need for the development of a comprehensive long term energy plans. The United States is currently highly dependent on oil supplies from countries which offer limited guaranties of continued reliable supply and no guarantees at all in respect of price. As the crude oil price has fallen in recent weeks OPEC has announced that it will curb production in order to try and boost prices, something that the ailing western economies need like a hole in the head – but no doubt a few Saudi palaces need their gold to be burnished so America and the rest of us will have to pay. read more

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Taking on the Oil Barons – an early task for President Obama!

I wonder if the senior management of Shell and the rest of the western oil multinationals are quaking in their shoes following the election of Barack Obama. They should be!

From my own experience I know that Shell was a supporter of George W Bush and his malevolent regime from the start, although they will of course deny that that was the case! One of the many hypocrisies of Shell’s “Business Principles” was the one that said that they did not support political parties. In fact Shell in the US was a contributor to the Republican Party during the Bush years – albeit that this support was not transparent. I was told in Houston that donations were made to Republican front organisations not just by Shell but by all of the Houston based energy corporations – hardly surprising of course as they were all “palling up” , to coin a phrase, to the Bushes, themselves oil men of sorts, for years. Many of the American leaders of Shell were fully paid up Country Club Republicans and they were enthusiastic supporters with their fellow members of the Oil Barons Club (like the Enron crooks) with the Republican Party in Texas and elsewhere. read more

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Leave petrol retailing to the professionals not to the oil men

Tesco they do know what retailing is all about...

Tesco they do know what retailing is all about...

Alastair Darling’s (30th October) call for Shell and the other oil majors to reduce the pump price of petrol reveals an ignorance of how the oil business really works. There is little modern case for Shell, BP or the rest of the oil companies to be involved in petrol retailing at all. There are no vertically integrated benefits any more – every internal transaction (from wellhead to pump) is done at a market value related transfer price. So Shell’s petrol station business in the UK receives its product at an open-market determined price – exactly the same price basis as an independent (like Tesco) would pay to a refiner or trader. That price is precisely linked to Crude Oil prices. The resultant pump price (before duty and tax) is determined by this acquisition cost and influenced on the margin by competition in the local trading area. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Oil multinationals in “Renewable Energy” – it makes no sense.

We continue to be deluged with corporate advertising claiming that the multinational oil companies are in the vanguard in promoting the benefits of renewable energy. The latest ads from BP, the “beyond petroleum” company, are a case in point. They say that a combination of Oil+Gas+Wind+Solar+Biofuels will give the world a “dependable energy future”. True of course, although they conveniently miss out nuclear power – presumably because there is certainly no chance that BP will go nuclear. read more

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Time is ripe for greater public control of the oil industry in Europe

But, as we have seen, the pursuit of personal reward by top executives, driven by a pursuit of profit above everything else, can lead to disaster – as it has in the banking sector and as it did for Enron and very nearly for Shell as well at the time of its “reserves crisis” a few years ago.

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The origins of Shell’s “Greenwash” were back in 1997

In this article former Shell executive Paddy Briggs explains the background to the oil company’s predilection for “Greenwash

Greenwash is in the news again as the oil companies are pilloried for the disingenuous corporate advertising they propagate in a naïve effort to boost their reputations. Shell has been twice criticised by the Advertising Standards Authority and BP and others have also outraged the environmental lobby by the sheer effrontery of many of their claims. But where did it all begin? Take a look first at this video on YouTube, and then I will explain! read more

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Paddy Briggs leadership of ‘the world’s largest re-imaging programme’

(UPDATED INFORMATION: AS OF JAN 2010, PADDY BRIGGS BECAME AN ELECTED TRUSTEE OF THE SHELL CONTRIBUTORY PENSION FUND)

By John Donovan

As regular visitors are aware, former Royal Dutch Shell executive, Paddy Briggs, is a welcome contributing author of insightful articles on this website.

Paddy is a modest fellow so it was interesting to stumble across a reference to him and his leadership at Shell of ‘the world’s largest re-imaging programme’ on pages 378/379 of the book: “A CENTURY IN OIL” read more

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Why does Shell not promote it’s gas brand “V-Power” properly?

Today with over 40,000 gas (petrol) stations in around 100 countries Shell is by some distance the most visible retail brand in the world.

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Former Shell Exec Paddy Briggs comments on Shell’s sale of its stake in the London Array Wind Farm

By Paddy Briggs

This is important news. These two major companies would not have made this investment if they did not think that the project was viable. So Shell’s withdrawal has nothing to do with the inherent merits of the project but with their continued aversion to activities away form their core hydrocarbon business. As a shareholder I have no problem with this. As Tom Peters wisely said – STICK TO YOUR KNITTING !

What I object to, however, is the continued claims by Shell and other Oil Majors that they are genuinely interested in “Renewables”. The reality is that they have neither the time nor the skills nor the imagination to be heavily involved in Wind Energy (etc.). The number of staff, the capital investment and the revenue expenditure on Renewables is minuscule compared with the core hydrocarbon business. But the rhetoric in the corporate advertising of Shell and the rest is quite disproportionate to this reality. It really is utterly hypocritical. read more

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Comments of former Shell Exec Paddy Briggs on Linda Cook

By Paddy Briggs

There are many who believe that many of Shell’s problems in recent times has come from a growing Americanisation of this historically European company. My experience with senior Americans (Jim Morgan, Steve Miller, Lynn Elsenhans and others) was that they were usually likeable but wholly unsuited to the international character of Shell. The regrettable centralisation of decision making is an American led virus. Linda Cook has no international experience to speak of and she sounds like an archetypal centralising American business apparatchik – the last thing Shell needs just now. read more

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The day that we demolished a childrens’ playground

I’ve told this story before – but ten years on it may be due a retelling! Back in 1998 Shell was going through a top down generated change management process. This one was called “BFI” but I can’t for the life of me remember what the initials stood for. It had two main elements. The first was about measuring the business and trying to improve performance. The idea was that you “drilled” down to examine the business in minute detail to try and find your business strengths and weaknesses. Where did the money come from – or where did it go. It was a bit dull and a bit accountant led and rather micro in scale – but it wasn’t totally daft. The totally daft bit came from the other part of BFI. read more

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Guns and Oil: How The Multinational Oil Companies Are Queuing For Their Rewards

Iraq: ...the reason that Shell and ExxonMobil and the rest are confident of riches is because they have the best supporter of all to guarantee it for them. The United States military.

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Comment by former Shell executive Paddy Briggs: For once I (sort of) agree with Jeroen

High Prices lead to high profits. High profits lead to high director remuneration. QED - ’tis in the interest of the high priced help in Shell (etc.) to keep the oil price high -whatever they may say!

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Shell walks away from its drivers – and from its customers as well

One of the modern shibboleths that businesses seem to worship is that of "contracting out" wherever possible - hire an outside contractor when you need to rather than managing that activity yourselves, especially when that activity is problematic in some way. But what if that activity is pretty crucial to your business and what, even more importantly, if it is crucial to your reputation?

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Comment by former Shell exec Paddy Briggs on UK tanker driver pending strike: Is Shell really “locked in talks?” I doubt it.

Is Shell really “locked in talks?” I doubt it. Remember that they walked away from involvement in oil product distribution years ago when they sacked their drivers and “contracted out”.

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Shell’s “Golden Handcuffs” Retention Bonuses: Former Shell Exec Paddy Briggs, calls for the resignation of Shell Director Sir Peter Job

Description of Shell non-executive director Peter Job at the Royal Dutch Shell Plc AGM: He bluffed and blundered to little effect and showed precious little understanding of the issues. There was absolutely no justification given for the scandalous "retention bonuses"...

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Shell’s “Golden Handcuffs” plan: Former Shell Exec Paddy Briggs, calls for the resignation of Shell Director Sir Peter Job

The bonuses are designed to keep the three executives (Malcolm Brinded, Linda Cook and Peter Voser) in the company, but, Job assured us, they are all uber-loyal to Shell and have no intention of leaving. Hmmm! Work that one out!

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Article by former Shell Exec Paddy Briggs: Another Shell “Business Principle” bites the dust

I naturally asked about this very prominent display and was told how close Shell Oil people in Houston were to the Bushes. “Pity you can’t help their election campaigns” I said cheekily. “What makes you think that?” my host replied.

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Anger at Shell’s Golden Handcuffs

...sources say that Shell seems very willing to ensure that its top executives maintain their high-living lifestyles when they retire, whilst turning a blind eye to the thousands of their ex-employees who live in less comfortable circumstances.

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Former Shell Exec Paddy Briggs comments on the article: Anger at Shell’s golden handcuffs

There is a common pattern here - greed mendacity, selfishness and, most culpable of all, stupefying ignorance. Add to this a meanness of sprit - no wonder many of us in the Shell afterlife feel that we don't know the company at all any more.

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Paddy Briggs: ‘The Tragedy of Corrib’

Paddy Briggs's remarkable report on the ill-starred Corrib Natural Gas project "The Tragedy of Corrib" has now been published and is available from the publishers at a cost of £4.30 (plus p&p).

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Article by former Royal Dutch Shell executive Paddy Briggs: Shell pulls out of Wind Farm project

"...as a commentator on brand and reputation management I find Shell’s mismatch between rhetoric and reality a continuing and monstrous disgrace."

It’s not the most elegant phrase to use but it seems appropriate – come on Shell “Cut the crap”.

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Former Shell Exec Paddy Briggs comments on The Shell Foundation

Wikipedia Commons image: Paddy Briggs 

April 18th, 2008 03:22

Former Shell Exec Paddy Briggs comments on The Shell Foundation

The following comments by Mr Paddy Briggs arise from a letter sent to The Guardian newspaper by Kurt Hoffman.

Letter from Kurt Hoffman director of the Shell Foundation

Paddy says…

The “Shell Foundation” is a classic example of how modern corporations seek to create a halo effect around their global brands implying a high degree of altruism exists, whilst in reality making the absolute minimum amounts of funding available. Shell’s rhetoric, exemplified by Mr Hoffman’s self-congratulatory letter and the very name of the initiative (suggesting something analogous with genuinely big charitable enterprises like the Ford Foundation or the Gates Foundation) is misleading in the extreme. read more

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Goblok, Paddy Briggs and Shell ethics

By John Donovan

The following is an extract from comments about Shell made by “Goblok”, an anonymous contributor to our website…

A business not a charity and hopefully a responsible one most of the time. Is everyone in Shell decent and ethical – for the most part yes I am sure like most other MultiNationals – it mirrors the society in which employees work and live. Are there still a few “bastards” in the organisation who are egotistical and selfish: probably yes! but then thats life and you will find the same in every company and every part of Civil Society read more

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Former Shell Exec Paddy Briggs comments on the article: The Pearls of Shell

Wikipedia Commons image of former Shell Executive Paddy Briggs

The Times: “The Pearls of Shell”

April 16, 2008
Dominic Walsh: City Diary

A colleague visiting Shell’s group head office in The Hague the other day picked up a booklet in the foyer entitled Shell Group Headquarters House Rules. On the inside front page is a section called “The Pearls of Shell”, which says: “The people employed at Shell are the pearls of our company. They impart lustre to our business and deliver first-class performance, day in day out. That is why it is vital to cherish their wellbeing, health and safety.” There is more guff about “treating one another with respect” but by now you have doubtless already reached for the sick bucket. read more

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Former Shell PR veteran, Paddy Briggs, traces the firm’s reputational demise

Former Shell PR veteran, Paddy Briggs, traces the firm’s reputational demise

“the reputation of Shell has been destroyed by hypocrisy, mendacity and deceit.”

Wednesday 27 July 2005

By Paddy Briggs

First Published in prweek.com on September 03 2004 

THE ARTICLE

In 1997, advertising legend Maurice Saatchi was called in by the Royal Dutch/Shell Group to help it improve its image. Saatchi produced a number of adman slogans – but among all the hyperbole he said one very wise thing: ‘No communication can work effectively unless backed by real action.’

The years that followed Saatchi’s brief involvement with Shell were characterised by a plethora of comms initiatives – but also by actions at the top that have mortally wounded its reputation. read more

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Moral, Ethics and Engineered Torture in the Corporate Environment

Moral, Ethics and Engineered Torture in the Corporate Environment

“It is courageous of Mr Briggs to openly state his professional assessment that the “Reputation of ***** has been destroyed by hypocrisy, mendacity and deceit”.

By internationally known humanitarian and former Shell geologist/whistleblower

Dr John Huong

Posted 13 Sept 2004

I have noted with great interest news of the book being written by my former esteemed colleague, Mr Paddy Briggs. I look forward to reading it next year.

It is courageous of Mr Briggs to openly state his professional assessment that the “Reputation of ***** has been destroyed by hypocrisy, mendacity and deceit”. I am not in a position at the moment to comment on his analysis as I am currently being sued for defamation for making not dissimilar comments about the same multinational. This is why I have substituted asterisks for the name of the relevant brand/company. read more

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