Dive Brief:

• Shell has named Wael Sawan as CEO, effective Jan. 1, 2023, according to a company statement Thursday.
• Sawan will replace Ben van Beurden, who is stepping down after leading Shell since January 2014. 
• Sawan will also join Shell’s board of directors, while van Beurden will continue working as adviser to the board until June 30, 2023, after which he will leave the group.

Dive Insight:

Sawan, currently Shell’s director of integrated gas, renewables and energy solutions, has held a variety of positions with the company over the past 25 years. Prior to his current role, Sawan was upstream director — his first role on Shell’s executive committee. Sawan has also held the roles of EVP of deepwater and EVP of Shell Qatar.

In his current role, Sawan has developed the architecture of Shell’s global power and renewables businesses. He’s grown the company’s renewable generation portfolio by spearheading the acquisitions of solar power and renewable energy platforms Savion and Sprng Energy, respectively, and securing leases in offshore wind auctions in the U.S., Europe and Asia.

That experience could help as CEO, where Sawan said he’s looking forward to working on the challenges presented by Shell’s energy transition — the company’s initiative to become a net-zero emissions energy business by 2050.

“We will be disciplined and value focused, as we work with our customers and partners to deliver the reliable, affordable and cleaner energy the world needs,” Sawan said in a statement.

Upon joining Shell in 1983, van Beurden held a variety of operational and commercial roles in both upstream and downstream, including VP of manufacturing excellence. He became Shell’s VP of chemicals in 2006, a position he held until becoming downstream director in 2012 — his last position before becoming CEO in 2014.

Beyond spearheading Shell’s energy transition strategy in 2021, van Beurden’s “bold moves” as CEO included leading the company’s 2016 acquisition of British fuel rival BG Group and the $30 billion divestment of non-core assets that followed, said Andrew Mackenzie, chair of Shell’s board of directors.

“[van Beurden] took firm, decisive action to marshal the company through the global pandemic, seizing the opportunity for a major reset to ensure we emerged fitter, stronger and equipped to succeed in the energy transition,” said Mackenzie.

Sawan’s appointment as CEO is the third major executive move announced by Shell this year. In February, the company named Ed Daniels as its newly created director of strategy, sustainability and corporate relations. A month later, Shell appointed Sinead Gorman as CFO.