Shell Honours Outgoing Nigeria Country Chair Marno de Jong as Elohor Aiboni Takes Over Leadership

Shell Companies in Nigeria (SCiN) on Tuesday formally bid farewell to its outgoing Executive Vice President, Nigeria and Country Chair, Marno de Jong, at a high-profile ceremony in Lagos, while welcoming former Managing Director of Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo), Elohor Aiboni, as his successor.

The event, held at Eko Hotel & Suites, attracted senior government officials, leaders of the energy industry, business executives and representatives of professional bodies, who paid glowing tributes to de Jong for his more than six years of leadership of Shell’s operations in Nigeria.

The ceremony also marked a significant milestone for Shell in Nigeria, as Aiboni became the first woman to lead the company’s businesses in the country.

In a farewell message, the Chief Executive Officer of Shell plc, Wael Sawan, praised de Jong’s leadership style and contributions to the global energy company.

“The way Marno drives performance is admirable,” Sawan said, while thanking him for his commitment and achievements during his tenure.

Nigeria’s Minister of Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, also commended de Jong, noting that Shell’s investments under his leadership aligned with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda and contributed to national economic development.

The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), Bayo Ojulari, represented by the Executive Vice President, Upstream, Udobong Ntia, applauded de Jong for strengthening the long-standing partnership between Shell and NNPC Ltd.

He particularly acknowledged his role in advancing Nigeria’s gas development agenda.

“We look forward to the next chapter of Shell to deepen our strategic partnership,” Ojulari said, adding that de Jong had helped to advance the vision of positioning gas as an energy source for Nigerians.

During his tenure, de Jong oversaw several strategic achievements that reshaped Shell’s operations in Nigeria. These included the successful divestment from the company’s onshore oil production assets, which paved the way for the emergence of Renaissance Africa Energy Company, sustained production at the Bonga deepwater field leading to the production of its one billionth barrel of oil, and the execution of the Bonga North and HI projects.

Colleagues and senior Shell executives described de Jong as a leader who inspired people through empathy, technical competence and collaboration.

Shell President, Upstream, Peter Costello, described him as a leader who balanced operational excellence with strong interpersonal relationships.

“He understands the technical detail. He understands the commercial choices. He understands the importance of partnership. And most importantly, he understands the value of people and relationships,” Costello said.

Other senior executives who paid tribute included former Country Chair, Shell Nigeria, Osagie Okunbor, Managing Director of SNEPCo, Ronald Adams, Managing Director of Shell Nigeria Gas, Ralph Gbobo, and General Manager, Deepwater Oil, Iyke Nnoaham.

A major highlight of the evening was the formal handover ceremony, during which de Jong officially transferred leadership responsibilities to Aiboni before an audience of industry leaders and stakeholders.

The moment was greeted with applause as guests celebrated the appointment of the first female Executive Vice President, Nigeria and Country Chair of Shell Companies in Nigeria.

Speaking after assuming office, Aiboni acknowledged the significance of the responsibility before her and pledged to build on the achievements of her predecessor.

“The hard work starts now, and I look forward to the exciting years ahead,” she said.

In his farewell remarks, de Jong expressed appreciation to government officials, regulators, business partners and Shell employees for their support throughout his assignment in Nigeria.

He also paid tribute to his wife, Anne-Marie, and their children, thanking them for standing by him through every relocation, assignment and unexpected change of plans.

Reflecting on his years in the country, de Jong described Nigeria as a place that profoundly shaped his leadership and personal outlook.

“Nigeria taught me many things. It taught me patience. It taught me resilience. It taught me the importance of listening. And above all, it reinforced my belief that progress happens when people come together around a shared purpose,” he said.

The leadership transition signals a new chapter for Shell Companies in Nigeria as Aiboni assumes responsibility for steering the company’s operations amid ongoing transformation in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, with stakeholders expressing optimism that the strategic partnership between Shell, government and industry players will continue to deepen under her leadership.