Like Mr Voser BvB seemed eager to assume the top job and appeared to be decisive, which was encouraging. That was before he became an apparent victim of what is being described as Shell’s current “annus horribilis.” Seems to be an annual event.
By John Donovan
Not exactly an inspiring start by the new Chief Executive Officer of Royal Dutch Shell Plc, Ben van Beurden.
Three weeks into his tenure and already one of his executive director colleagues has suddenly left the company without any rational explanation. Now we have the profits warning that took the markets by surprise and a related admission by BvB that “our 2013 performance was not what I expected from Shell.”
I can only surmise that he has not been a regular visitor to this website, or he might have been rather better informed than apparently has been the case, if we are to believe his claim of ignorance, as if he was some mere bystander.
There have been countless news reports from around the world about the profits warning, but thus far none has highlighted the fact that BvB was an executive director of Royal Dutch Shell Plc during the period in question (from a year ago) and therefore has to accept a share of the blame for what has gone wrong.
There will be no dodging responsibility now that he has the top job.
Like Mr Voser BvB seemed eager to assume the top job and appeared to be decisive, which was encouraging. That was before he became an apparent victim of what is being described as Shell’s current “annus horribilis.” Seems to be an annual event.
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