…as Marno de Jong Departs After 34-Year Career
By Olusola Bello
Shell has announced a leadership transition in its Nigerian operations, appointing Elohor Aiboni as Executive Vice President and Country Chair, Nigeria, effective August 1, 2026, as outgoing executive Marno de Jong steps down after a 34-year career with the company.
The appointment places Aiboni at the helm of one of the energy major’s most strategically significant upstream markets in Africa, overseeing operations, investments, and stakeholder engagement in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
First Nigerian to hold combined senior Shell Nigeria role
Aiboni becomes the first Nigerian to hold the combined position of Executive Vice President and Country Chair for Shell Nigeria, marking a significant milestone in the company’s local leadership structure.
She is currently serving as Asset Director at Brunei Shell Petroleum, and previously led Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited) as Managing Director from 2021 to 2024.
During her tenure at SNEPCo, she oversaw operations in deepwater assets including the Bonga field, which reached major production milestones and remained one of Nigeria’s flagship offshore developments.
Outgoing Country Chair Marno de Jong, who joined Shell in 1992, has held multiple leadership roles across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. He became Senior Vice President for Nigeria in 2020 and later assumed additional responsibility as Country Chair, overseeing Shell’s entire Nigerian portfolio.
Under his leadership, Shell advanced key upstream projects in Nigeria’s deepwater and gas segments, including investment decisions on major developments such as the HI gas project and expansion activities around the Bonga hub.
In his farewell remarks, de Jong described his time in Nigeria as professionally rewarding and expressed confidence in the company’s continued performance under new leadership.
Shell remains one of the largest foreign investors in Nigeria’s upstream oil and gas industry, with operations spanning deepwater production, gas development, and integrated energy projects.
The leadership change comes at a time when Nigeria is seeking to stabilise crude output and attract new upstream investment amid global energy transition pressures and fluctuating oil prices.
Aiboni’s appointment is expected to strengthen Shell’s focus on deepwater production efficiency, project delivery, and long-term gas development strategies in Nigeria.
Aiboni brings more than 24 years of experience within Shell, with operational and leadership roles across Nigeria’s offshore, shallow-water, and onshore assets, as well as international assignments in Kazakhstan and Brunei.
She was previously recognised as one of Shell’s key leaders in production optimisation and asset performance management, particularly within offshore developments.
Nigeria’s oil and gas sector continues to face a dual challenge: sustaining production growth while attracting new capital investment. The country has repeatedly struggled to meet its OPEC production quota, despite improved output performance in recent months.
Industry analysts say leadership continuity in major operators like Shell will be critical to unlocking new offshore projects and maintaining investor confidence.
Transition effective August 2026
Shell confirmed that the leadership handover will take effect on August 1, 2026, ensuring a structured transition between outgoing and incoming executives.
The company said the change reflects its long-term succession planning and continued commitment to Nigeria, where it has operated for more than six decades.