Royal Dutch/Shell Group Chairman Philip Watts has resigned, prompting a series of management changes in the continuing aftermath of the supermajor's negative reserves revision announcement early this year.
Shell revised the estimate of its proved oil and natural gas reserves by 3.9 billion boe, or 20% (OGJ Online, Jan. 9, 2004).
Royal Dutch Petroleum Co. Pres. Jeroen van der Veer succeeds Watts as chairman of the group's Committee of Managing Directors.
Walter van de Vijver stepped down from Royal Dutch Petroleum's board and as group managing director.
Both Watts and van de Vijver stepped down by mutual consent, Shell said.
Malcolm Brinded has been appointed managing director and vice-chairman of the Committee of Managing Directors. He assumes Van de Vijver's duties as chief executive of Shell Exploration & Production. Rob Routs, a member of Royal Dutch Petroleum's board, has assumed Van der Veer's chemical business responsibilities.
Norway's Statoil ASA has appointed Helge Lund CEO, effective Aug. 15. Lund currently is chief executive of engineering firm Aker Kvaerner ASA.
Lund fills a vacancy created by the resignation of former CEO Olav Fjell in the wake of an investigation into the hiring of an Iranian consultant (OGJ Online, Sept. 23, 2003).
Statoil Executive Vice-Pres. Erling Overland has been appointed acting CEO until Lund takes over. Meanwhile, Inge K. Hansen has stepped down as Statoil's acting CEO to become Aker Kvaerner's chief executive.
ExxonMobil Corp.'s board has promoted Senior Vice-Pres. Rex Tillerson to president and board member.
Lee Raymond continues his position as board chairman and ExxonMobil CEO.
Tillerson was elected senior vice-president on Aug. 1, 2001. In December 1999, he became executive vice-president of ExxonMobil Development Co. He joined Exxon Co. USA in 1975 as a production engineer.
Australia's Woodside Petroleum Ltd. announced that Don Voelte has been appointed managing director and CEO of the Woodside Group, effective Apr. 5.
Previously, Voelte was CEO of Chroma Energy, a Houston-based private exploration and production company. Earlier in his career, he worked for Mobil Corp. and ARCO.
