Linda Cook, boss of the division gas and energy “of Shell, on 2 July 2008 in Madrid

LONDON (AFP) – Shell announced Tuesday that Linda Cook, patroness of the division gas and energy giant Anglo-Dutch oil and candidate in the general direction, leave office on 1 June, a start could be the prelude a major reorganization.

This will precede the start of the new CEO of Shell, the current finance director Peter Voser, scheduled for July 1st. The latter was preferred to Linda Cook and other candidates, including Malcolm Brindred, leader of the division “exploration and production”, to succeed Jeroen van der Veer. 

According to analysts, the announced departure of Linda Cook reflects Mr. Voser to make its mark without delay and to renew the framework of the group, even for a reorganization of its activities. 

Peter Hutton, the firm NCB, said that the resignation was “not unusual” on the part of a candidate aligned, adding that Linda Cook was deemed not to get along with Mr. Voser. 

However, he said the other main internal candidate for the post of general manager, Malcolm Brindred far to experience a similar fate, could not see its position strengthened by the departure of Ms. Cook, and recover all or part of its functions. 

“Peter Voser might seek to merge the gas and energy division in the upstream division + + (the industry” exploration and production “, ie), as is the case with the rival groups BP and Total, in order to generate economies of operation, “he anticipated. 

Meanwhile, the website royaldutchshellplc.com, led by Alfred and John Donovan, former employees opposed to the direction of the oil group, has confirmed these speculations, saying that Mr Voser would announce an overhaul of the organizational group Thursday, after a two-day meeting of the principals of the company to be held in Berlin. 

According to the site, said that based on internal sources of Shell, Mr Voser actually announce that day the integration of gas and energy division in the upstream division, and the disappearance of certain centers and regional decision removing a third of the senior group.

SOURCE ARTICLE IN FRENCH (THE ABOVE IS A TRANSLATION INTO ENGLISH)

By John Donovan

The following information has been assembled from multiple Shell insider sources.

Funeral in Berlin: Tomorrow a two day meeting commences in Berlin involving the Shell top 100.  

A formal farewell to the departing Chief Executive Jeroen van der Veer will take place during the first day of the meeting. 

The second day has been set aside for his replacement, Peter Voser, to announce his plans said to include:

1. A major cull of senior managers/executives. More than 30% will go, rewarded with golden handshakes. 

2. A merger of Shell EP and Shell Gas & Power, hence the sudden departure of Linda Cook (who according to insider sources was ruthlessly pushed into leaving). The merged business will be run on a centrally organised basis. Regional offices will be closed. 

By Paddy Briggs

Cook’s departure is ego-driven. She lost out – so she walks away in a huff. But then that’s what you do when the only thing that matters is self-aggrandisement. What charecterises Shell head honchos in recent times is that it is all about self. Power, position, perks and obscenely inflated bonuses and rewards – and to hell with the business or the tradition or the history of this once great company and once respected brand. And to hell with the stakeholders as well. Suppliers, Partners, local communities, employees, pensioners and society at large are the disposable small fry in the selfish and self-centered world of Van Der Veer, Cook, Brinded and the rest.

Linda Cook, head of gas and power of Shell, the oil giant, will leave the company after missing out in the race to become chief executive and will forfeit a “loyalty” bonus of £800,000.

A year ago I called for the departure of Sir Peter Job as a non-executive director of Shell.

It has taken a full year for the media at large to realise just how unfit this man is to oversee the remuneration of Shell’s top executives. But whilst the buck undoubtedly stops on Job’s well-padded shoulders the remainder of the non-executive directors cannot escape responsibility for the debacle that is shareholders rejection of the remuneration proposals for Shell’s high-priced (very high priced!) help. Let’s name and shame them. Jorma Ollila sits at the top as non-executive Chairman. Why didn’t he call for an end to the excesses of the past and instruct Job to take public opinion in these difficult times into account?

And what about Wim Kok (pictured)?

I was first aware of Kok when I lived in The Netherlands in the early 1980s – he was then a respected trades union leader – not a left-wing firebrand but a genuine social democrat and representative of the working man. He later became a Labour Prime Minister of The Netherlands – but where are your socialist principles now Wim and when did you become a Fat Cat? Then there are Christine Morin-Postel, Lawrence Ricciardi, Hans Wijers , Nick Land and Josef Ackermann and His Lordship Kerr of Kinlochard GCMG. Did none of them realise that to be a Non-executive Director requires you to take an objective view. Did they just take the money and run and acquiesce to the shameful remuneration plan that the shareholders have so honourably thrown out? The questions need to be asked and I am happy to ask them. Let’s see if we get any answers!

LONDON (Dow Jones)–Royal Dutch Shell PLC’s (RDSB.LN) chief of gas, power and renewable energy Linda Cook has resigned unexpectedly, and will step down as an executive director of the company effective June 1, the company said in a statement Tuesday.

LONDON, May 26 (Reuters) – Royal Dutch Shell Plc (RDSa.L) said Linda Cook was stepping down as head of the oil group’s gas and power division, after she lost out in the race to become Shell’s new chief executive.