Shell appoints downstream director

Royal Dutch Shell PLC has appointed Ben van Beurden as downstream director, effective Jan. 1, 2013. In his new role, Van Beurden will become a member of Shell's executive committee and succeed Mark Williams, who will be returning to the US and leaving the company after 33 years of service.

Van Beurden currently serves as Shell's executive vice-president, chemicals. He joined Shell in 1983 and has held various engineering, plant management, and operations and commercial roles in the Netherlands, Africa, Malaysia, the UK, and the US.