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 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.

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.

Linda Cook, Executive Director of Royal Dutch Shell Gas & Power

According to a reliable Shell insider source Linda Cook, Executive Director of Royal Dutch Shell Gas & Power, is leaving Shell in just a few days time, on June 1, 2009, for sudden undisclosed reasons. 

The following posting was made on our Shell Blog at 8am UK time…

Linda Cook is stepping down. Peace at last, peace at last. Now there is room for talented women instead of token women. Will she return her stay-on bonus? Very curious what bullshit story she will now come up with!

LINDA COOK: Executive director, gas and power, Royal Dutch Shell, the Netherlands

RiskMetrics, the international voting agency, advises shareholders to vote Shell’s pay plan down. And the Association of British Insurers has put an “amber top” alert out, warning its members of a potential breach of good governance.

Royal Dutch Shell’s senior executives were paid sharply higher remuneration last year, although performance in terms of shareholder returns was the worst of all big western oil companies.