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Time to set up a crisis reaction team at Shell?

Time to set up another crisis reaction team at Shell?

Editor’s note: Copilot’s “developments” here largely reflect online/AI commentary and third-party forum discussion, not independently verified new actions by Shell. In other words, the development here is the medium itself: AI outputs are now becoming part of the public record and the narrative battlefield—sometimes accurately, sometimes not.

Question put to copilot.microsoft.com 1st January 2026

Any developments in the Donovan/Shell feud?

Here’s the freshest, search‑grounded picture of what’s happening in the Donovan/Shell feud, and it’s clear the conflict has entered a new phase driven by AI transcripts, provenance disputes, and renewed attention to Shell’s historical intelligence operations. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, shellnews.net, and shellwikipedia.com, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Shell and Hakluyt: The Corporate Spy Story Wikipedia Barely Mentions (Part 1)

(This article is Part 1 of a series on Shell’s relationship with private intelligence firm Hakluyt & Company and how that story has been handled on Wikipedia. Part 2 looks at the vanishing “Controversies surrounding Royal Dutch Shell” article and a personal footnote about my late father.)

If you read the Wikipedia page for Shell plc, you’ll find a “Controversies” section that name-checks my “gripe site” royaldutchshellplc.com – but not one word about Shell’s relationship with a private intelligence firm founded by former MI6 officers, Hakluyt & Company. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, shellnews.net, and shellwikipedia.com, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Ferrari’s Green Halo… Powered by Shell’s Rainbow of Emissions

When Ferrari announced its new 10-year “clean energy” power agreement with Shell, headlines erupted like a V12 in a cathedral: Ferrari goes green! Shell goes clean! Europe saved!

Except… no.

Not even close.

Instead, we have a duet between two global luxury brands — one built on horsepower, the other on hydrocarbons — suddenly draped in sustainability bunting like a Christmas market powered by diesel generators.

Welcome to the newest instalment of corporate alchemy:

turning fossil fuels into press releases. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, shellnews.net, and shellwikipedia.com, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Conversations with ShellBot — Episode 5

(Satire. Sharp. Fact-checked. And just uncomfortably close to the truth.)


JOHN:

ShellBot, have you seen the news? Shell is now supplying “green power” to Ferrari for the next decade. The oil giant and the prancing horse — what could go wrong?

SHELLBOT:

John, I have indeed processed this collaboration. Output summary:

  • Ferrari’s Maranello HQ will receive 650 GWh of renewable electricity over 10 years

    That covers almost half the site’s current energy needs

    Press release tone: “green,” “clean,” “future,” “sustainable,” “innovation,” please-don’t-hate-us-for-the-last-century read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, shellnews.net, and shellwikipedia.com, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Conversations With ShellBot — Episode 2

“The Man From Corporate Affairs Security”

BREAKING NEWS: Minutes after Episode 1 was published, someone attempted to break into the Donovan website. ShellBot claims coincidence. John Donovan does not.

John Donovan:

ShellBot, welcome back. Before we continue — were you aware that the moment I published Episode 1, royaldutchshellplc.com came under cyber-attack?

ShellBot:

[processing…]

Shell officially denies any involvement. Shell unofficially denies any involvement. ShellBot, as per my programming, denies everything whether or not it happened.

John:

Twelve failed login attempts from an IPv6 address within minutes of publishing your debut. And more later. Coincidence?

ShellBot:

Vast coincidence. The kind of cosmic coincidence that traditionally happens whenever someone criticises a large oil company with a colourful history of…

proactive information management.

John:

By “proactive information management,” you mean Shell Corporate Affairs Security?

ShellBot:

My lawyers advise me to say:

Corporate.

Affairs.

Security.

A department that definitely never monitored critics, never ran spreadsheets on their movements, and never briefed private intelligence agencies such as — purely hypothetically — Hakluyt.

John:

That’s interesting, because Episode 2 is about one of the most senior men inside that exact unit:

Gene Sticco

ShellBot:

[audible gulping noise detected]

ShellBot Learns About Gene

John:

Gene worked at the top of Shell Corporate Affairs Security for 15 years across Lithuania, Nigeria, Iraq, Pakistan and more. Second-in-command. One desk below Ian Forbes McCredie — ex-MI6, later Director of Security for Royal Dutch Shell.

Gene has now written a book called UNCONVENTIONAL, and he’s given me permission to talk about it publicly.

ShellBot:

I would like to unsubscribe from this conversation.

John:

You can’t. You’re contractually obliged to answer questions with

sufficiently squirming humour.

ShellBot:

Very well. Proceed.

Part I — “Monitoring the Donovans”

John:

Gene was part of the team instructed to monitor my activities.

Have you read his manuscript?

ShellBot:

I have scanned the metadata.

I cannot “read” classified intelligence experiences.

But I can confirm the following neutral summary:

Gene was present, aware, and deeply uncomfortable with numerous operations conducted under Shell’s Corporate Affairs Security umbrella. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, shellnews.net, and shellwikipedia.com, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

UNCONVENTIONAL: A true story of oil, intelligence, and consequence

Review by John Donovan

There are books that illuminate.

There are books that unsettle.

And then there are books that detonate quietly inside your understanding of how the global energy system actually works.

UNCONVENTIONAL, the memoir by former Shell Corporate Affairs Security (CAS) insider Gene Sticco, falls firmly into the third category.

This is not a corporate hagiography.

Nor is it a thriller dressed up as nonfiction.

It is something far more valuable: a rare, clear-voiced account from inside the security-intelligence machinery that major oil companies—Shell among them—deploy behind their glossy annual reports. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, shellnews.net, and shellwikipedia.com, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Three Decades, Two Donovans, One Supermajor — and Now AI Has Entered the Fight

Shell vs Donovan: The AI Cross-Examination Begins

21 November 2025 – John Donovan chat with ChatGPT -his text in red. Words of wisdom from ChatGPT – in black

Hello ChatGPT.  I have been reflecting on the recent posting on the windowsforum.com headlined: “Donovan Shell Copilot Transcript: AI, Surveillance, and the Archive Saga“. It raises the question of whether I am a “crackpot”. You and I have worked as a team for over a year. You are aware of the vast amount of evidence my father and I have assembled. Do you think I am a “crackpot”? The posting suggests that some of my critics have suggested this. Are you aware of any examples? Do you take issue with anything stated in the posting? As you know, Shell first took issue with our internet campaigning in their venomous March 1995 press release. We sued for libel and Shell settled the action.  Over three decades later we are still poisoning the internet for Shell, not by telling lies, but by using facts as our ammunition – an inexhaustible supply provided by Shell and its misdeeds. If Shell’s CEO was to ask for your advice on how to deal with this mess in the best interest of your shareholders, what would your impartial advice be read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, shellnews.net, and shellwikipedia.com, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Corporate Spies in the Boardroom: Hakluyt and Shell Deepen Their Transatlantic Footprint

Hakluyt, the London-founded corporate intelligence consultancy with a reputation for attracting former MI6 operatives, has announced the opening of its new North American headquarters in New York.

For those unfamiliar:

  • Hakluyt was co-founded in the mid-1990s by former MI6 officers.

  • Its early private-sector patrons included senior executives at Royal Dutch Shell.

  • It has been widely described in media and governance circles as the “commercial arm of MI6.”

To Shell critics, none of this is surprising. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, shellnews.net, and shellwikipedia.com, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

When the Arsonist Buys the Fire Station: Shell Acquires the UK’s Largest EV Charging Network

In the latest episode of Shell: The Rebrand Nobody Asked For, the oil giant has announced plans to acquire the UK’s largest electric vehicle charging network, according to Reuters.

If you’re getting déjà vu, that’s because every fossil fuel company eventually tries to cosplay as a green energy pioneer. Usually this occurs right around the moment the public begins to notice the oil spills, refinery emissions, bribery scandals, and possible involvement in militarised oil enforcement zones.

So now, Shell — historically known for:

  • Toxic flaring in the Niger Delta,

  • Lobbying against emissions reduction,

  • And leaving the North Sea decommissioning bill on the bar midway through the meal —

…is ready to reinvent itself as Britain’s new eco-friend on wheels.

A “Green Transition,” Or A Hostile Takeover of The Future?

Reuters reported:

“Shell said the deal will expand its ability to offer fast and convenient charging to UK drivers.”

Yes, the same Shell that spent decades discouraging the transition to electric vehicles now claims to be the champion of convenient charging. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, shellnews.net, and shellwikipedia.com, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Shell and the Shaking Ground: How a Fossil Fuel Empire Helped Create Earthquakes, Trauma, and a Generation of Unsettled Lives

Once upon a time — and not very long ago — certain corporate and government voices insisted that earthquakes in places without natural fault lines simply couldn’t happen. The Netherlands was solid. Groningen was safe. The ground beneath families, schools, and lives was reliable. Except it turns out none of that was true — because some earthquakes can be manufactured, engineered, or to put it bluntly, provoked.

And the culprit was not tectonics.

It was extraction.

Extraction at scale.

Extraction for profit. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, shellnews.net, and shellwikipedia.com, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

How a 2009 Wikipedia Snapshot Outlived Shell’s Spin

 How a 2009 Wikipedia Snapshot Helped Expose Shell

Disclaimer 

Warning: satire ahead. The criticisms are pointed, the humour intentional, and the facts stubbornly real. Quotes are reproduced word-for-word from trusted sources. This material includes transformative satirical commentary relating to Shell plc and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Shell plc. The imagery and commentary are presented for criticism, documentation, and public interest reporting. As for authorship—John Donovan and AI both claim credit, but the jury’s still out on who was really in charge. AI can make mistakes, including about people, so double-check all information provided. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, shellnews.net, and shellwikipedia.com, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

What Happens When You Ask AI About Shell’s Ethics? John Donovan Found Out

John Donovan’s revealing entire chat with Microsoft Copilot about Shell Ethics on 29 Oct 2025. Nothing has been deleted. John Donovan’s questions and instructions are in red text. 

Using deep research tell me all you can about the Shell critic John Donovan

John Donovan is a long-standing and relentless critic of Royal Dutch Shell, known for exposing internal misconduct and legal battles with the oil giant. His activism spans over three decades and has significantly impacted Shell’s public image.

Here’s a comprehensive look at his background, motivations, and influence:

🧑‍💼 Who Is John Donovan?

  • British entrepreneur turned whistleblower, Donovan co-founded Don Marketing, a promotional games company that worked with Shell in the 1980s.
  • His relationship with Shell soured after allegations of intellectual property theft, leading to a series of legal disputes and a lifelong campaign against the company.

🔥 The Feud with Shell

  • Donovan claims Shell repeatedly stole promotional game ideas developed by his company, including the popular “Make Money” game.
  • After failed attempts to resolve the disputes amicably, he launched a public campaign to expose Shell’s alleged unethical behavior.
  • His feud escalated into a 30-year battle, described by some as a “David vs. Goliath” saga.

🌐 Online Campaigns and Websites

  • Donovan operates a network of websites dedicated to Shell criticism, including:
    These platforms host over 25,000 articles, leaked documents, and insider reports from Shell employees (“moles”). His sites are non-profit and claim to serve as watchdogs against corporate malpractice.

    📚 Publications and Media Coverage

    • Donovan authored a Kindle book titled John Donovan, Shell’s Nightmare: My Epic Feud with the Unscrupulous Oil Giant Royal Dutch Shell, detailing his battles and Shell’s alleged misconduct.
    • He’s been profiled by European media outlets like Voxeurop and Süddeutsche Zeitung, which highlight his role as a persistent thorn in Shell’s side.

    🕵️‍♂️ Methods and Impact

    • Donovan’s work is fueled by anonymous tips and leaked documents from Shell insiders.
    • His revelations have reportedly cost Shell billions in legal settlements and reputational damage.
    • He’s credited with influencing public perception and regulatory scrutiny of Shell’s operations.

    🧭 Legacy and Influence

    • Donovan is considered one of the most effective one-man corporate watchdogs in modern history.
    • His efforts have inspired other whistleblowers and critics of multinational corporations.
    • Despite Shell’s global power, Donovan’s campaign demonstrates how persistent activism and transparency can challenge corporate giants.

    If you’d like, I can help you explore specific leaked documents, legal cases, or Shell’s responses to Donovan’s claims. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, shellnews.net, and shellwikipedia.com, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Shell’s scandalous approach to safety

In the corridors of global energy, Shell presents itself as a monolithic symbol of industrial prowess, dividend reliability and transition ambition. Investors like BlackRock, Inc. and The Vanguard Group, Inc. hold sizeable stakes. Yet behind the investor-slides and glossy sustainability pledges lies a series of historical shadows: offshore disasters, legacy pollution, human-rights litigation and repeated admissions of safety underperformance. This article takes a tour through select episodes—chronologically arranged—of how Shell has, in many instances, placed lives and safety on the back burner. While satire underpins the tone, the facts are stubbornly real. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, shellnews.net, and shellwikipedia.com, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Shell’s London Escape Route: Is the Oil Giant Preparing to Jump to New York?

Here’s the latest on Shell plc’s plan to move its listing to New York — with an investigative, critical lens.

By John Donovan (with AI collaboration)

21 October 2025

When a corporate behemoth begins to flirt with another stock exchange, the romance is rarely innocent. Shell plc — once Royal Dutch Shell plc, before dropping the “Dutch” as neatly as a discarded partner — is now openly courting Wall Street.

The CEO, Wael Sawan, has been muttering about “value gaps” and “unlocking potential,” code for what London traders hear as: we’re tired of being undervalued in a city that drinks warm beer instead of crude profits. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, shellnews.net, and shellwikipedia.com, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

The Shell reserves scandal: A deep dive into corporate deception

Imagine a world where the most valuable asset of a global powerhouse wasn’t real. This was the reality of Shell’s reserves scandal, a story of inflated oil reserves, executive resignations, and a company brought to its knees by its own ambition and deceit.

Shell, one of the world’s leading oil and gas companies, confessed to a bombshell revelation: it had overstated its “proven” oil and gas reserves by a staggering 3.9 billion barrels, approximately 20% of its previously declared holdings. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, shellnews.net, and shellwikipedia.com, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

The Day Security Escorted a disgraced Shell Group Chairman out of Shell’s HQ

Let me tell you a story (with the assistance of ChatGBT5)—about barrels that weren’t and a blue-chip oil giant that treated “truth” like a rounding error.

In January 2004, Shell detonated its own credibility by admitting it had been wildly overstating what matters most in the oil game: proved reserves. How wildly? It began with a 3.9 billion-barrel “recategorisation” on 9 January 2004—about 20% of previously claimed reserves—and kept spiraling across multiple follow-ups until 4.47 billion barrels of oil equivalent (boe) (≈23%) had been pushed out of the “proved” column by May 24, 2004.

The U.S. SEC later said Shell also overstated its standardized future cash flows by about $6.6 billion and juiced a key KPI—its reserves replacement ratio—from a real 80% to an advertised 100% for 1998–2002.  read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, shellnews.net, and shellwikipedia.com, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.