Netherlands-based oil major Royal Dutch Shell will name Maersk Oil’s former Chief Executive, Gretchen Watkins, as a president for its US arm, in Houston.
Current president Bruce Culpepper is expected to step down from his role at the end of 2018, after more than 37 years service at Shell, according to an official statement by the company on Tuesday. Then, Gretchen Watkins will be appointed as Shell Oil Co. president and U.S. country chair, which is accountable to the CEO.
However, Ms. Watkins will officially join Shell on 1 May. Prior to becoming president, she will be appointed as executive vice president of unconventionals on 1 July, replacing Greg Guidry, after 36 years. She will then retain both roles.
Shell has large offshore production and several refineries in the US, and has earmarked its shale business as a key growth engine in the years to come. The company aims to enhance total shale production by 200,000 to 500,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, from 2017 to 2020, mostly in the United States with some production in Argentina, Guidry, according to Reuters.