In August 2005, Royal Dutch Shell Plc announced the appointment of an “outsider”, Jorma Ollila, as its non-executive Chairman.
In announcing Mr. Olilla’s appointment, Shell’s board highlighted the infusion of fresh blood. “We were looking world-wide for a chairman with international standing, a global outlook, and proven success in managing a complex organization,” said Lord Kerr of Kinlochard, Shell’s deputy chairman, who led the job-search committee. “In Jorma Ollila we found all these qualities, and more.”