Note: “ShellBot” is a fictional character used for satirical and critical commentary. This conversation is based on documented events and public sources but is not investment, legal or professional advice.
John Donovan: Back in 2006, Shell went looking for a digital agency to “handle its online communications” and help “turn around corporate reputations.” How does that sound to you, ShellBot?
ShellBot: Like a job ad for a plastic surgeon:
“Patient has long record of scandals.
Requires full online facelift.
Must be experienced in managing expectations and hiding the scars.”
1. The 2006 brief: fix the reputation, redesign the website
John Donovan: Remind me what they were asking for?
ShellBot: According to the trade press at the time:
Wikipedia sells itself on a simple promise: a free online encyclopedia that anyone can edit.
For most topics, that promise works beautifully. But when you reach the intersection of anonymous editing, big moneyand corporate reputation, things get murkier. My experience with Royal Dutch Shell and Wikipedia is a case study in how an open encyclopedia can be quietly sanitised – and how a giant corporation reacts when someone tries to document its history.
This article is drawn from my ebook Toxic Facts About Shell’s History on Wikipedia and related material on my Shell-focused websites, all of which I authored.read more
copilot.microsoft.com answers, in its own words, the question: Who is John Donovan linked to Shell? (Initial Question)
09 November 2025
John Donovan is a long-time critic and activist who has waged a decades-long campaign against Royal Dutch Shell, exposing alleged corporate misconduct and ethical failures.
Here’s a deeper look at his connection to Shell:
🧑💼 Background and Role
Founder of Don Marketing: Donovan ran a promotional marketing company that worked with Shell in the 1980s and 1990s. Disputes over intellectual property and contract issues led to a bitter fallout.
Shell Corporate Conscience Pressure Group: He co-founded this group to hold Shell accountable for its business practices. It was later dissolved following a confidential agreement with Shell.
📣 Activism and Campaigns
and Related Sites: Donovan operates several websites—including and shellnazihistory.com—dedicated to publishing internal Shell documents, whistleblower accounts, and investigative reports.
Publications: He authored “John Donovan, Shell’s Nightmare”, detailing his feud with Shell and accusing the company of unethical behavior, including theft of intellectual property.
📰 Media Recognition
Widely Quoted Expert: Donovan has been cited by major outlets like The New York Times, Financial Times, Reuters, and The Guardian for his insights into Shell’s internal affairs.
🔍 Notable Themes in His Work
Corporate Ethics: He frequently highlights Shell’s alleged failures to uphold its own business principles.
Historical Investigations: His work includes controversial claims about Shell’s historical ties, including Nazi affiliations through figures like Sir Henri Deterding
John Donovan’s investigative work on Shell’s history is a provocative and persistent effort to expose what he views as the company’s darker legacy. His research spans decades and includes controversial claims, leaked documents, and historical analysis.
🕵️♂️ Key Themes in Donovan’s Historical Investigations
Shell’s Alleged Nazi Connections: Donovan has published extensive material alleging that Shell, under the leadership of Sir Henri Deterding, had ties to Nazi Germany in the 1930s. He claims Deterding admired Hitler and facilitated oil deals that supported the Nazi regime. These claims are detailed on his site , which includes archival documents and commentary.
Sir Henri Deterding’s Role:
Deterding was a powerful figure in Shell’s early history, serving as its chairman.
Donovan argues that Deterding’s political sympathies and business dealings aligned with fascist interests, including support for anti-Bolshevik movements and German rearmament.
Shell’s Colonial Legacy:
Donovan has highlighted Shell’s operations in Nigeria and other regions, focusing on environmental degradation, human rights abuses, and complicity in political unrest.
He often references Shell’s involvement in the Niger Delta and the execution of activist Ken Saro-Wiwa as emblematic of corporate negligence and exploitation.
Use of Leaked Internal Documents:
Donovan has published confidential Shell communications, whistleblower reports, and internal memos to support his claims.
These documents often reveal internal debates about ethics, legal risks, and public relations strategies.
Critique of Shell’s Business Principles:
He argues that Shell’s stated commitment to transparency and human rights is contradicted by its historical and ongoing actions.
His work aims to hold Shell accountable for what he sees as a pattern of hypocrisy and moral failure.
📚 Publications and Online Archives
Donovan’s websites serve as living archives, with thousands of pages of documents, commentary, and historical analysis.
His work is not peer-reviewed but has attracted attention from journalists, academics, and activists.
Overview of Shell’s operations in Nigeria and John Donovan’s coverage
John Donovan has long documented and criticised Shell’s nearly century-long presence in Nigeria, focusing on oil spills, environmental damage, human rights abuses, corporate practices, and what he frames as a self-interested exit from onshore operations. His work combines archival documents, leaked internal material, commentary, and news-style posts hosted on sites he runs and manages.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
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
We’re taking a trip down memory lane to the dark days of World War II. You know, back when Hitler was still rocking his signature mustache and the world was in a state of utter chaos. But guess who was lurking in the shadows. None other than our pals at Royal Dutch Shell.
Yep, turns out, while Hitler was busy turning Europe into his own personal playground, Shell was right there by his side, cheering him on like a proud parent at a Little League game. According to the annals of history, Shell’s big boss man, Sir Henri Deterding, was practically BFFs with ol’ Adolf himself. They even had cozy 4 day meeting at Berchtesgaden, where they presumably chatted about world domination over tea and biscuits.read more
After years of trying so hard to save the world one fossil fuel at a time, Shell has decided to take a break. Yes, the philanthropic oil tycoon is selling its home energy business in the U.K. and Germany to Octopus Energy for an undisclosed sum. What’s the reason for the secrecy?
Shell proclaimed that it’s expecting this saintly transaction to conclude in the fourth quarter of the year, right after they get the nod from the regulators. The company had already announced back in June that it was planning to pull its home energy retail unit out of the U.K., Netherlands, and Germany. Finally, after powering 6.5 million homes in Britain with their incredible insight into energy supply, Octopus Energy will take up Shell’s philanthropic mantle.read more
…rest assured loyal customers, you’ll be given ample notice before your accounts are transferred to the next profiteer.
Posted 6 June 2023 by John Donovan
In a stunning act of selflessness, the ruthless oil giant Shell has announced its departure from the retail energy sector in Britain, Germany, and the Netherlands. Unbelievably, they claim their decision is based on “poor returns,” as if their insatiable greed hasn’t already done enough damage.
Just a few months ago, Shell initiated a strategic review of its European retail businesses, conveniently blaming the “tough market conditions” it helped create. Of course, this review was prompted by their new CEO, Wael Sawan, who was probably looking for a fresh way to continue the company’s legacy of environmental destruction.read more
Wow, these reviews are good. I was hoodwinked into taking out another year as a ‘technical’ IT guy came on the line & said he had ‘adjusted’ it so SKYPE would work now. I know, I’m a fool to believe this trick. It doesnt work, nor does streaming & the broadband is so slow it cuts out trying to download photos on facebook. I just wanted to cancel the rest of the contract, as I’m now using a works line for everything but the cancellation fee is for the full contact length. ie I’m stuck with a crap service until July. BEWARE – no scruples about taking your money for nothing.read more
Another hammer blow for Shell. Evidence confirms that Shell fuelled the Nazi war machine
By John Donovan: 31 May 2021 (updated JULY 2021)
A new book by James Marriott and Terry Macalister reveals the extent to which the oil company Royal Dutch Shell played a key role in Hitler’s war effort.
James Marriott is a writer and activist with three decades of knowledge of the oil sector. Terry Macalister is a freelance journalist and former energy editor of the Guardian.
As the author of the Kindle book published in 2016 – Sir Henri Deterding and the Nazi History of Royal Dutch Shell – I welcome the fact that other parties have reached the same basic conclusions as I did after studying much of the same evidence.
According to ‘Crude Britannia’, by James Marriott and Terry Macalister, at the outbreak of World War Two the Anglo-Dutch company “effectively divided into an Allied corporation and an Axis corporation”. The Nazi-supporting branch of Shell, called Rhenania-Ossag, “swung in behind the [German] government as the Nazi state began to invade other countries”.
Or as Shell’s official history states ‘Following Hilter’s annexation of Austria and Czechoslovakia, (Shell) Group managing directors sanctioned Rhenania-Ossag taking over Shell companies in those countries.’ The same process took place in Hungary, Yugoslavia and Greece after Germany took control of those states.
Shell’s German subsidiary, Rhenania-Ossag, fired all the Jewish members on its board in May and June 1933. The appointments to replace them included a member of the Nazi party. The official history states, “the far reaching changes to the Rhenania-Ossag board could not have taken place without the full consent of [Shell Central Offices… No questions of principle or moral judgements about the Hitler regime appear to have arisen.” Shell’s historians were not able to establish what happened next to these Jewish staff members.
Seven years later, after Germany invaded Holland, the Swastika flew outside Shell’s HQ in The Hague.
EXTRACTS END
I was originally tipped off about Shell’s concern over its past toxic history by Shell internal communications never meant for my eyes.
Shell had advance sight of my book and my website ShellNaziHistory.com. Despite aggressive threats, bluster and a global spying operation, Shell took no legal action. No multinational giant would want to draw attention to its past association with Hitler and the Nazis.
Some of the information about Shell’s collaboration with the Nazis covered on pages 19, 20, 21, 22 of the main book, and pages 352, 353 and 354 from the Notes section of the book:read more
Shell’s toxic Nazi history catching up with the energy giant
By John Donovan
Information and evidence about Shell’s financial support for Hitler’s Nazi regime (and Shell’s anti-Semitism directed at its own employees), remained buried for decades in library books and newspaper archives gathering more and more dust.
Unfortunately for Royal Dutch Shell, it’s reputation, brand value (and shareholders), fast-evolving Internet technology, including digitalisation of newspaper archives, has transformed access, thereby making that toxic information instantly available everywhere. And spread by social media. read more
Sir Henri Deterding’s admiration and support for another fascist dictator, Mussolini
By John Donovan
I have already published an ebook and website focussed on Royal Dutch Shell leader Sir Henri Deterding and his admiration and support for the Nazi dictator, Adolf Hitler, who he met a number of times on behalf of Shell.
Hitler was not the only fascist dictator admired and supported by Deterding.
In his autobiography “AN INTERNATIONAL OILMAN” (pages 13 and 14) Sir Henri made plain his high regard for the Italian dictator, Benito Mussolini.
In Italy, not long ago, it fell to my lot to talk with Mussolini, a man who, regard him as you may, has shown a driving force almost unparalleled in running a country-though from such outward manifestations as are seen in the present-day world, I wouldn’t say that the running of a country was at all the same thing as the running of a business. Too often, the men who run countries have never run businesses, as the results of their government so painfully show. But that is by the way.read more
In February 2007, someone at Shell stated an intention in an internal email dated 2 February 2007, to put pressure on The Sunday Times to “kill” an article about our intervention in the Sakhalin 2 project (which according to The Sunday Times article cost Shell £11 BILLION).
We also discovered that from 2006 onwards Shell secretly kept and regularly updated “Focal Point” information about our activities. Some of the information in the reports is inaccurate.
We have copies of reports updated in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010. I have supplied one example from each year.
The “Focal Point” seems to be a person rather than the title of the document. I believe the person was Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx.
It is plain from the reports that there was anxiety at Shell about the possibility that I would ask a question at the AGM. A list of possible questions and rehearsals of responses are listed in the Focal Point reports. read more
Shell commissioned a group of eminent “independent” historians (above) mostly Dutch, to author a history of Royal Dutch Shell to mark the Group’s centenary in 2007.The introduction in Volume 1 pledged independent research and “a proper and even-handed assessment of Deterding.” Something went amiss because the “history,” as published in regard to his dealings with Hitler, is simply untrue.
On 24 May 2015, a light-hearted story in the Prufrock column of The Sunday Times posed the question: “ARE corporate histories the new harbingers of doom?”It cited the release of corporate histories of two multinational banks that proved embarrassing to the banks due to unforeseen developments.read more
Titled Shell directors, the late Sir Peter Holmes, and Sir William Purves were also directors, major shareholders and the ultimate spymasters in a private spy firm, Hakluyt & Company, founded by former senior MI6 officers. Shell used Hakluyt to engage in cloak and dagger operations against its perceived enemies, including Greenpeace, as exposed in a Sunday Times article (above and below).
The main content of Chapter 20, which relates to Shell’s use of corporate espionage against its perceived enemies, is not included in this online version of John Donovan’s EBook: Sir Henri Deterding and the Nazi History of Royal Dutch Shell. Shell’s espionage targets have included Greenpeace, The Body Shop, and John Donovan. He has been the subject of admitted uncover activity and a global spying operation as revealed by Shell internal documents. read more
John Donovan, the author of “Sir Henri Deterding and the Nazi History of Royal Dutch Shell
As the Chairman of an International sales promotion agency and more recently as an individual, I have a relationship with Royal Dutch Shell stretching back over 35 years. It has been the subject of media coverage in newspapers, magazines and TV news and documentary features. It took a wrong turn when Shell misappropriatedideas I had disclosed to the company in strictest confidence.
In the Ed Vulliamy article about my campaign to rename a $3 billion new ship hired by Shell, reference was made to a Shell related website I co-founded with my late father a decade ago:read more
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Please provide feedback in the chat forum (below)... In the meantime, why not ask Shelldon a question, and have some fun? – Simpy click the big chat-bubble button (bottom-right of the website). Enjoy!
EBOOK TITLE: “SIR HENRI DETERDING AND THE NAZI HISTORY OF ROYAL DUTCH SHELL” – AVAILABLE ON AMAZON EBOOK TITLE: “JOHN DONOVAN, SHELL’S NIGHTMARE: MY EPIC FEUD WITH THE UNSCRUPULOUS OIL GIANT ROYAL DUTCH SHELL” – AVAILABLE ON AMAZON. EBOOK TITLE: “TOXIC FACTS ABOUT SHELL REMOVED FROM WIKIPEDIA: HOW SHELL BECAME THE MOST HATED BRAND IN THE WORLD” – AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.
JOHN DONOVAN TV DOCUMENTARY INTERVIEW
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
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
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!
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
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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. 
Posted by John Donovan 1 Sept 2023
In February 2007, someone at Shell stated an intention in an 
EBOOK TITLE: “SIR HENRI DETERDING AND THE NAZI HISTORY OF ROYAL DUTCH SHELL” – AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
EBOOK TITLE: “JOHN DONOVAN, SHELL’S NIGHTMARE: MY EPIC FEUD WITH THE UNSCRUPULOUS OIL GIANT ROYAL DUTCH SHELL” – AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.
EBOOK TITLE: “TOXIC FACTS ABOUT SHELL REMOVED FROM WIKIPEDIA: HOW SHELL BECAME THE MOST HATED BRAND IN THE WORLD” – AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.
