Shell Plc has appointed veteran energy executive Elohor Aiboni as Executive Vice President Nigeria and Country Chair, succeeding Marno de Jong, who is stepping down after more than six years leading the company’s operations in Nigeria.
She is the first woman to lead Shell Nigeria.
The leadership transition was marked at a ceremony in Lagos attended by senior government officials, energy industry executives and business leaders, who praised de Jong’s contributions to Nigeria’s oil and gas sector and welcomed Aiboni as the first woman to lead Shell’s businesses in the country.
Shell Chief Executive Officer Wael Sawan described de Jong as a leader who consistently drove performance and delivered value for the company.
“The way Marno drives performance is admirable,” Sawan said in a recorded farewell message, thanking him for his contributions to Shell’s global business.
Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, said Shell’s investments during de Jong’s tenure aligned with the Federal Government’s economic reform and industrialisation agenda.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) also commended de Jong’s leadership. Speaking on behalf of Group Chief Executive Officer Bayo Ojulari, Executive Vice President, Upstream, Udobong Ntia, said Shell had played a significant role in advancing Nigeria’s gas development strategy.
“We look forward to the next chapter of Shell to deepen our strategic partnership,” Ojulari said.
Major Milestones Under Marno de Jong
During his tenure, Shell completed several strategic initiatives, including the divestment of its onshore oil assets to the Renaissance consortium, a move that reshaped its Nigerian portfolio toward deepwater and integrated gas operations.
Other achievements included sustaining production at the Bonga deepwater field, helping the asset surpass one billion barrels of cumulative oil production, while advancing the Bonga North and HI projects to support future production growth.
Senior Shell executives described de Jong as a leader who combined technical expertise with strong commercial judgement and collaborative leadership.
Elohor Aiboni Takes the Helm
A key highlight of the event was the formal handover of leadership to Elohor Aiboni, former Managing Director of Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo), who recently returned from an international assignment.
Aiboni becomes the first female Executive Vice President Nigeria and Country Chair in Shell’s history in the country.
“The hard work starts now, and I look forward to the exciting years ahead,” Aiboni said after accepting the role.
In his farewell remarks, de Jong thanked the Nigerian government, regulators, industry partners and Shell employees for their support throughout his assignment.
“Nigeria taught me patience. It taught me resilience. It taught me the importance of listening. Above all, it reinforced my belief that progress happens when people come together around a shared purpose,” he said.
The ceremony attracted leading figures from Nigeria’s energy industry, including executives from Nigeria LNG Limited, ExxonMobil Nigeria, Midwestern Oil & Gas Company and Aradel Holdings, reflecting de Jong’s influence across the country’s oil and gas sector.
The appointment of Aiboni comes as Shell continues to strengthen its focus on deepwater oil production, natural gas development and lower-carbon energy investments following the completion of its onshore asset divestment in Nigeria.
