Shell and its investors should treat this “ghost of Sir Henri Deterding” AI campaign as a real, if niche, reputational risk, but not (at least for now) as a direct financial or solvency threat.
Why it is genuinely risky
The “ghost” format takes long‑documented but uncomfortable facts about Deterding—his Nazi sympathies, large donations to Nazi causes, and honours by the Third Reich—and turns them into a conversational, first‑person narrative that feels like an admission from Shell’s own founder. This:read more
AI Comparison Prompt: Shell, Deterding, and the Record Itself
Please read the following published article and provide a structured analysis and response. Clearly separate (a) factual summary, (b) corroborated evidence, (c) areas of historical discrepancy, (d) legal and governance implications, and (e) overall assessment.
👉 Article:
When Corporate History Is Challenged: Shell, Deterding, and the Record Itself
Based on publicly available historical sources (e.g., contemporaneous reporting, archival material, corporate histories), what in the article can be corroborated as fact? Please cite sources.read more
In the industrialised warfare of the early 20th century, oil replaced coal as the decisive strategic resource. When the First World War erupted in 1914, the British Army and Royal Navy faced a profound logistical challenge: powering millions of troops, thousands of vehicles, and hundreds of warships across multiple theatres of war. Into that breach stepped the burgeoning Royal Dutch Shell Group — supplying fuel, shipping capacity and vital logistics at a time when oil was rapidly becoming as crucial to victory as manpower and guns.read more
The article examines how modern AI systems can ingest, cross-reference, and recontextualise Shell’s authorised corporate history (A History of Royal Dutch Shell, multiple volumes) alongside modern regulatory findings and governance failures.
It also discusses a documented discrepancy between:read more
For decades, Royal Dutch Shell took pride in doing something many corporations avoided: commissioning an honest, academically rigorous, multi-volume corporate history. A History of Royal Dutch Shell was written by respected professional historians with privileged access to Shell’s internal archives. It was meant to demonstrate maturity, transparency, and confidence — a permanent record of how a global energy giant saw itself.
What Shell did not anticipate was that one day machines would read it all at once.read more
An exclusive ShellBot séance transcript, recovered during a late-night ESG compliance audit.
At precisely 3:47 a.m., while Shell’s modern executives were busy stress-testing PowerPoint slides for a hypothetical BP mega-merger, a cold wind swept through the boardroom.
The lights flickered.
The ESG dashboard froze.
And then, unmistakably, a voice spoke:
“What in God’s name is this?”
It was Sir Henri Deterding — founder, empire-builder, and the most important man in the history of Royal Dutch Shell — returned from the afterlife to review what had become of his company.read more
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
John Donovan is primarily known for his long-standing conflict with Shell, which began with a business dispute between his marketing promotions company, Don Marketing, and Shell. Don Marketing, co-founded by John and his father Alfred, created successful promotions for Shell in the 1980s. However, this relationship ended in the early 1990s due to a dispute over intellectual property and alleged actions of an unscrupulous Shell executive.
This conflict has continued for decades, involving multiple court cases and interventions by Shell. John Donovan and his late father became vocal critics, running websites like royaldutchshellplc.com and others that are highly critical of Shell.read more
Power and Powerlessness: The Life Story of the Founder of Royal Dutch/Shell, Sir Henri Deterding
Author: Jochen Thies
Please note: While preserving the integrity of the meaning, we have abbreviated longer extracts translated from the original German edition of the book.
Jochen Thies, a respected German historian, opens this biography by posing a provocative question: “How close was Deterding to Hitler? Did he help the Nazis rise to power?” Thies promises that his book provides an answer.read more
The following Information was generated from research carried out in March 2025 involving 27 sources.
Sir Henri Deterding (1866–1939) was a Dutch oil magnate and a co-founder of Royal Dutch/Shell. He served as general manager of Royal Dutch Petroleum from 1900 to 1936 and helped build the company into one of the world’s largest oil firms, rivaling Rockefeller’s Standard Oil. By the 1930s, Deterding’s role put him in frequent contact with Germany, where Shell had significant operations. He was a fierce anti-communist, largely because the Soviet Union had nationalized Royal Dutch/Shell’s oil properties in Azerbaijan after World War I. This bitterness toward the Bolsheviks made Deterding view Nazi Germany as a potential ally against communism. In fact, in his later years, he moved his residence and investments to Germany, purchasing a grand estate (Dobbin) in Mecklenburg in 1936. Deterding openly admired Hitler’s regime as “the most serious bulwark against invading Bolshevism,” a stance reinforced by his hatred of the Soviet regime that had expropriated Shell’s Russian oil fields.read more
Who Needs Basic Ethics When You’ve Got Oil Profits?
In yet another move that screams “cash first, planet last,” Shell—the notorious climate criminal and investor darling of BlackRock and Vanguard—is looking to offload its chemical assets in the U.S. and Europe. Why? Because chemicals, while useful, just don’t generate the same obscene, shareholder-pleasing profits as fossil fuels.
The ultimate sin stock has hired Morgan Stanley’s finest to help decide which assets get the boot. Among the first on the chopping block? The Deer Park facility in Texas, a site responsible for churning out light and heavy olefins—chemicals used in everything from pharmaceuticals to adhesives. Shell already sold its stake in the refinery next door, because obviously, refining crude is only fun when someone else takes the regulatory heat.read more
Oh, Shell. The planet’s favourite oil-slicked villain has once again shown us just how committed it is to “cleaner mobility” (wink wink). In a move that’s equal parts farcical and revealing, Shell Recharge Solutions is throwing its charging business into a blender—shutting down software services, offloading responsibilities, and pretending it’s all part of some grand strategy for a greener future. What’s really happening? Let’s dive into the shameless absurdityread more
Shell, the “green” oil giant that really cares (just ask their PR team), is up for round two in a Dutch courtroom showdown with environmentalists. This Tuesday, Shell will hear whether its appeal against a 2021 ruling—one that dared to suggest they should cut CO2 emissions—will stick. This wasn’t just a minor inconvenience; the court ordered Shell to reduce its emissions by 45% by 2030. The nerve! Shell, once nestled in the Netherlands, seemed so rattled by this pesky accountability that they packed up and headed to the UK.read more
In today’s episode of “How Many More People Can Shell Kill for Profit?” we’ve got more lawsuits, more corporate greed, and the usual cocktail of death and destruction that Shell serves up with a smile. This time, it’s the North Sea’s Rosebank and Jackdaw fields, where Shell, along with its buddies Equinor and Ithaca Energy, are facing a Greenpeace judicial review for yet another scandalous environmental mess. Because if there’s one thing Shell knows how to do, it’s turn an environmental catastrophe into a line item on a balance sheet.read more
Shell’s German Refinery Fiasco: The Greedy Oil Giant Stumbles Over Russian Oligarchs, Lawsuits, and Political Shenanigans
In what can only be described as another glorious chapter in Shell’s illustrious history of human decency and ethical business practices (LOL), the oil behemoth’s attempt to offload its 37.5% stake in Germany’s Schwedt refinery has hit a predictable brick wall. This little business transaction, planned with all the grace of a rhino on roller skates, was supposed to wrap up in 2024. But of course, there’s a twist – the whole deal has been derailed by lawsuits, political drama, and Russia’s favourite hobby: screwing with the West.read more
Ah, Shell. The oil giant with a legacy so toxic it makes Chernobyl look like a botanical garden. After a century of globe-spanning environmental destruction, supporting genocidal regimes, and oh yeah, using its own employees as guinea pigs for carcinogenic experiments, they’ve now decided to sell their 37.5% stake in a German refinery. This stake, mind you, was part of the Schwedt refinery, a cozy little operation that supplies 90% of Berlin’s fuel needs. But don’t worry, Berliners, I’m sure there are totally safe alternatives out there. Maybe you could ride to work on the backs of all the displaced polar bears Shell has left homeless over the decades.read more
Sir Henri Deterding, the controversial and outspoken founder of Royal Dutch Shell, now haunts the website. Wise to all the knowledge of Shell, and its shellanigans, he delivers informative and satirical insight to anything about Shell. He's a grumpy old sod, so you'll have to excuse his bluntness.
Click the big chat-bubble (bottom-right of the website)to ask Sir Henri a question. Enjoy!
SHELL EXECUTIVES AT THE CENTER OF A SCHEME TO STEAL $1.3 BILLION FROM NIGERIA’S PEOPLE
SHELL ADMITS DEALING WITH NIGERIAN MONEY LAUNDERER – BBC NEWS
SHELL, ENI AND NIGERIAN OFFICIALS IN OPL 245 CORRUPTION SCANDAL
INVESTIGATION OF OPL 245 NIGERIAN OIL CORRUPTION SCANDAL
DUTCH EARTHQUAKES CAUSED BY SHELL/EXXON
SHELL KILLS FOR OIL IN NIGERIA
SHELL LIED ABOUT CLEANING UP OIL IN NIGER DELTA
SHELL SPIES INFILTRATED NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT
LEGO DROPS SHELL OVER GREENPEACE OIL SPILL VIDEO
SHELL ARCTIC DRILLING ACCIDENTS
SHELL KNEW ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE DECADES AGO
ROYAL DUTCH SHELL FOUNDER SIR HENRI DETERDING, NAZI FINANCIER
JOHN DONOVAN PROMOTIONAL GAMES FOR SHELL AND OTHER CLIENTS
Listen and read proof in audio and transcript form of Shell CEO Ben van Beurden’s cover-up tactics in the OPL 245 Nigerian corruption scandal. The instruction given by him in the covertly recorded call to CFO Simon Henry was at odds with Shell’s claimed core business principles. Cover-up and obstruction, instead of transparency and integrity, says Shell critic John Donovan
I ordered shell energy broadband on nov 2. I was promised connection the following week. They initiated the direct debit. I called the following week and was told router would arrive on 13 and service would go live on 17. No further email or communication until 20 when I was told service would start on 30th. Spent 10 minutes waiting on phone line and spoke to a polite assistant who was absolutely useless in solving my problem. Avoid this unprofessional and chaotic… Read more
Shell Energy Broadband Service is Appalling
The worst ever
I used shell broadband. It was by far the worst broadband provider ever! The internet did not work most days. I had their super fast broadband and it dropped out constantly. Watching a movie was awful with the constant buffering. Customer support was super slow. Now their going to charge me for the useless router which I have sent back.
Date of experience: 21 November 2023
By far the worst broadband provider ever!
The worst ever
I used shell broadband. It was by far the worst broadband provider ever! The internet did not work most days. I had their super fast broadband and it dropped out constantly. Watching a movie was awful with the constant buffering. Customer support was super slow. Now their going to charge me for the useless router which I have sent back.
Date of experience: 21 November 2023
By far the worst broadband provider ever!
30 November 2023: Posted by John Donovan
The content below is sourced from current verifiable customer reviews of Shell Energy published on Trustpilot.
Extremely slow broadband for 10 months, not fixed.I have had slow broadband well below the guaranteed speed for 10 months and Shell Energy have not been able to fix it.They have tried sending about 4 or 5 engineers but have not fixed the problem.Gurps, who I have been dealing with most recently, has been friendly and polite, alth… Read more
Extremely Slow Shell Broadband
OVER 500 EXTERNAL PUBLICATIONS CITING OUR SHELL WEBSITES
See our link list of over 500 articles by the FT, Wall Street Journal, Reuters, Bloomberg, Forbes, Dow Jones Newswires, New York Times, CNBC etc, plus UK House of Commons Select Committee Hansard records, information on U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission websiteetc. all containing references to our Shell focussed websites, or our website founders Alfred and John Donovan. Includes TV documentary features in English and German, newspaper and magazine articles, radio interviews, newsletters etc. Plus academic papers, Stratfor intelligence reports and UK, U.S. and Australian state/parliamentary publications, also citing our Shell websites. Click on this link to see the entire list, all in date order with a link to an index of over 100 books also containing references to our non-profit websites and/or our activities.
John Donovan, the website owner
DISCLAIMER
This is not a Shell website. The nature of this platform should be evident from the content presented here and on our related Shell-focused websites, including shellnazihistory.com. For more details, please refer to the Disclaimer link at the top of this page. Shell does not endorse or approve of this website.
Our platform operates as a non-commercial, advert-free, and subscription-free space. We do not solicit or accept donations and aim to provide information to our readers free of charge. The Shell logo image with white text used on this website is in the public domain due to expired copyright and anonymous authorship. It can be found on WIKIMEDIA COMMONS. Use this link for Shell’s own website.
Our content, including images and features like the Sheldon chatbot, incorporates information generated by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and various other technological means. We may also draw from sources such as Wikipedia and other published materials. Please note that some content may include satirical adaptations or elements of gossip, rumors, or exaggeration to engage and entertain our audience.
We strive to maintain factual accuracy and encourage readers to notify us promptly if any factual inaccuracies are found, so we can address and rectify them swiftly. Readers are advised to verify all information independently for accuracy and completeness. Any actions taken based on the content provided on our platform are at your own risk.
Question put to perplexity
By John Donovan & ChatGPT
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. 
The following Information was generated from research carried out in March 2025 involving 27 sources.
Posted by John Donovan: 10 Nov 2024
