Shell Names Successor to Van Der Veer

Royal Dutch Shell announced yesterday that its chief financial officer, Peter Voser, is to become its next chief executive in succession to Jeroen van der Veer when he steps down at the end of June next year.

The oil group, which will announce its third-quarter results today, said the appointment had been made after a "comprehensive assessment and review of internal and external candidates".

Industry speculation had suggested that Malcolm Brinded, head of exploration and production, and Linda Cook, head of gas and power, were among possible internal candidates for the top job.

Voser, a Swiss national, joined Shell in 1982 and, over the next 20 years, worked in a variety of finance and business roles, including chief internal auditor and chief financial officer of Shell Europe Oil Products. He has worked at operations in Switzerland, Britain, Argentina and Chile.

In March 2002 he joined Asea Brown Boveri as its chief financial officer but moved back to Shell in September 2004 as chief financial officer.

Shell announced last year that Van der Veer would step down as chief executive next summer.

Yesterday, the company chairman, Jorma Ollila, said: "I am delighted to announce Peter Voser as the next chief executive of Royal Dutch Shell.

"Peter has the experience, qualities and personal leadership to drive Shell forward, building on the strong position established by Jeroen van der Veer."

Voser has a degree in business administration from the University of Applied Sciences in Zurich, was appointed a director of UBS in April 2005 and is a member of the Swiss federal auditor oversight authority.