Shell appoints new Country Chair for Dubai and Northern Emirates

AME Info (United Arab Emirates): Shell appoints new Country Chair for Dubai and Northern Emirates

Sunday 3 July 2005

The Royal Dutch/Shell Group of Companies has announced the appointment of Charles Watson as Country Chair for Shell in Dubai and the Northern Emirates.

United Arab Emirates:

He replaces Ron van den Berg who retired recently. Watson will also serve in a co-ordination role as ‘cluster Chair’ for Iraq, Jordan and Yemen. These roles are in addition to his Dubai-based regional role as Executive Vice President for Shell Gas and Power, covering North Africa, Middle East and South Asia.

Commenting on his new role, Watson said: ‘I am delighted to be given the opportunity to become more involved in leading Shell’s activities in Dubai and the Northern Emirates. This is a fascinating time for oil and gas in this region, where Shell’s presence has increased significantly in recent years. This trend is set to continue with large-scale, integrated gas projects just announced in Qatar and Libya, in addition to other major opportunities in the pipeline.

‘We also have a thriving downstream business – involved in selling lubricants, supplying aviation fuel, trading and chemicals – which is run from Dubai. With Shell’s Exploration & Production and Gas & Power offices having moved to Dubai recently, combined with our downstream and the other offices already here, we now have over 500 people working in the emirate, which is in itself a sizeable commitment.

‘We are here because the leadership of Dubai have made this fast-growing city a crossroads of the Middle East region, creating a strategically important international trading hub,’ he added.

Watson, who came to Dubai in February last year, has a B.Sc. in Civil Engineering, and an MBA from INSEAD. He joined the Shell Group in 1983, having worked in the oil, gas and construction industries in Hong Kong, Algeria and Saudi Arabia. He has also served as Deputy Business Director for Shell’s Exploration and Production business for the Middle East, based in The Hague; later as General Manager UK Retail; and as General Manager, Quadrant, which is now a part of Shell Energy Europe.

Prior to his appointment as the Executive Vice President for Shell Gas and Power in 1999, Watson held several senior positions in Exploration & Production (E&P), Oil Products and Shell Gas.

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