Royal Dutch/Shell announces leadership changes

March 7, 2003
Royal Dutch /Shell Group plans to appoint Rob J. Routs as group managing director in the Netherlands effective July 1, and will appoint Lynn Elsenhans as president of Shell Oil Products US and country chair effective June 16 to succeed Routs.

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Mar. 7 -- Royal Dutch /Shell Group plans to appoint Rob J. Routs as group managing director in the Netherlands effective July 1, and will appoint Lynn Elsenhans as president of Shell Oil Products US and country chair effective June 16 to succeed Routs.

Routs succeeds Paul D. Skinner, who is retiring Sept. 30 after 40 years service with Royal Dutch/Shell.

In addition, Judith G. Boynton will be appointed managing director of Shell Petroleum Co. Ltd. and a member of Shell Petroleum NV's presidium of the board of directors, which includes leading executives from Shell's UK offices and Royal Dutch offices in the Netherlands. Thereby, Boynton becomes a group managing director of Royal Dutch/Shell, effective July 1.

Routs was appointed Equilon Enterprises LLC president and CEO in 2000, and after Shell's acquisition of Texaco Inc.'s interest in Equilon, he became Shell Oil Products US president and CEO (OGJ, Apr. 1, 2002, p.34). In addition, he became Shell Oil Co. president and US country chairman on Sept. 1, 2002.

In 1999, Routs became president of Shell Global Solutions International. Previously, he was Shell Canada Oil Products president after working in various refinery management positions in Canada since 1978.

Boynton will retain her current positions as director of finance and chief financial officer for Royal Dutch/Shell. She joined Royal Dutch/Shell Group June 1, 2001.

Previously, she was executive vice president-business development and chief financial officer of Polaroid Corp., Cambridge, Mass. In 1978-1998, Boynton held various finance, strategy, and merger and acquisition positions with Amoco Corp., including vice-president and controller.

Elsenhans was named director of strategic planning, sustainable development, and external affairs for Shell International Ltd. in London in July 2002. A former president and CEO of Shell Deer Park Refining Co., she has had assignments in oil products and chemical products manufacturing, marketing, and planning.

Her senior management assignments with Shell include manager natural gas in US E&P; manger lubricants in US oil products; vice-president refining, Equilon; and president of Shell oil products East, Singapore.