Senior Management
The Senior Management of the Company comprises the Executive Directors, Ben van Beurden and Jessica Uhl, and those listed below. All are members of the Executive Committee (see “Governance Framework”).
Click on a photograph to read the full biography
Harry Brekelmans
Projects & Technology Director
Tenure
Seven years and five months (appointed October 2014)
Age
56
Nationality
Dutch
Career
Harry was previously Executive Vice President Upstream International Operated, based in the Netherlands. He joined Shell in 1990 and has held various management positions in Exploration and Production, Internal Audit, and Group Strategy and Planning. From 2011 to 2013, he was Country Chair Russia and Executive Vice President for Russia and the Caspian region. In November 2021, Harry played a key role in the partnership of Shell with energy technology firm Baker Hughes Co., in an effort to help the partnership achieve their targets of net-zero carbon emissions.
Donny Ching
Deputy Chair and Senior Independent Director
Tenure
Eight years and one month (appointed February 2014)
Age
57
Nationality
Malaysian
Career
Donny was previously General Counsel for Projects & Technology, based in the Netherlands. He joined Shell in 1988 based in Australia and then moved to Hong Kong and later to London. In 2008, he was appointed Head of Legal at Shell Singapore, having served as Associate General Counsel for Gas & Power in Asia-Pacific.
Ronan Cassidy
Chief Human Resources and Corporate Officer
Tenure
Six years and two months (appointed January 2016)
Age
55
Nationality
British
Career
Ronan previously served as EVP HR for both the Downstream and Upstream International businesses in turn. He joined Shell in 1988 and has held various HR positions across the Shell value chain, including regional roles in Europe and NE Asia/China, and global roles in HR Strategy & Regional Coordination, Retail and LPG.
Ed Daniels
Strategy, Sustainability and Corporate Relations Director
Tenure
One month (appointed February 2022)
Age
56
Nationality
British
Career
Ed was previously Executive Vice President Strategy, Portfolio & Sustainability. He joined Shell in 1988 and has held roles in Shell’s Upstream, Integrated Gas, and Downstream businesses and our Projects & Technology organisation. He previously served as Shell’s UK Country Chair.
Wael Sawan
Integrated Gas, Renewables and Energy Solutions Director
Tenure
Two years and eight months (appointed July 2019)
Age
47
Nationality
Lebanese and Canadian
Career
On October 25, 2021, Wael succeeded Maarten Wetselaar as Integrated Gas, Renewables and Energy Solutions Director.
Wael was previously the Upstream Director and a member of the Executive Committee. Before that, he was Executive Vice President Deep Water and a member of the Upstream Leadership Team. He joined Shell in 1997 and worked in a variety of roles in each of Shell’s core business units: Upstream, Integrated Gas and Downstream.
Huibert Vigeveno
Downstream Director
Tenure
Two years and two months (appointed January 2020)
Age
52
Nationality
Dutch
Career
Huibert was previously Executive Vice President Global Commercial. He joined Shell in 1995 as a business analyst and led many Downstream businesses across Shell in Europe, Africa, North and South America as well as Asia. In 2009, Huibert was appointed Vice President Supply & Distribution, Europe and Africa. In 2012 he became Executive Chair of Shell in China, and in 2016 led the integration of BG Group.
Zoë Yujnovich
Upstream Director
Tenure
Five months (appointed October 2021)
Age
46
Nationality
Australian
Career
On October 25, 2021, Zoë succeeded Wael Sawan as Upstream Director and was appointed to the Executive Committee.
Zoë has held various management positions in Downstream, Integrated Gas and Upstream. Most recently, she served as Executive Vice President Conventional Oil & Gas and was previously Chair and Executive Vice President Shell Australia Pty Ltd. She joined Shell from Rio Tinto in 2014 to lead the company’s Oil Sands business in Canada.
2021 leavers
Maarten Wetselaar
Integrated Gas, Renewables and Energy Solutions Director until October 2021 (appointed January 2016).
