Shell has appointed Elohor Aiboni as Executive Vice President and Country Chair for Nigeria, making her the first Nigerian to hold the combined leadership role in the company’s history.

More significantly, the appointment crowns a career defined by operational excellence and strategic delivery, including her successful stewardship of the Bonga deepwater asset at Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo) between 2021 and 2024.

During her tenure, the flagship offshore field achieved major production milestones, including the landmark production of its one billionth barrel of oil, further cementing her reputation as one of the most accomplished energy executives to emerge from Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

The appointment marks a significant leadership transition for Shell in Nigeria as Aiboni succeeds Marno de Jong, who is leaving the company after a distinguished 34 year career to pursue a new opportunity outside the organisation.

The move also reflects Shell’s continued confidence in homegrown talent, particularly at a time when the company is positioning itself for the next phase of growth and investment across its Nigerian operations.

Currently serving as Asset Director at Brunei Shell Petroleum, Aiboni returns to Nigeria with more than 24 years of experience spanning offshore, shallow water and onshore operations.

Throughout her career, she has held several strategic and technical leadership roles within Shell, while also undertaking international assignments in Kazakhstan and Brunei, experiences that have strengthened her expertise in asset management, production optimisation and project delivery.

Notably, her tenure as Managing Director of SNEPCo between 2021 and 2024 remains one of the defining chapters of her career. Beyond becoming the first woman to lead Shell’s deepwater subsidiary in Nigeria, she successfully guided the business through a period of operational growth and investment expansion.

Consequently, the Bonga field recorded major achievements under her leadership, culminating in the production of its one billionth barrel of oil in 2023, a milestone widely regarded as one of the most significant accomplishments in Nigeria’s offshore energy sector.

Following her move to Brunei in 2024, Aiboni assumed responsibility for overseeing asset performance, production activities and project execution.

As a result, her elevation to the combined role of Executive Vice President and Country Chair reflects not only her technical competence but also her ability to deliver results across diverse operating environments.

Meanwhile, Marno de Jong leaves behind a record of steady leadership and strategic progress. Since taking charge of Shell’s Nigerian operations in 2020, he has overseen key developments across the company’s portfolio, helping to sustain strong operational performance while advancing critical investment opportunities.

Under his leadership, the Bonga asset consistently delivered high availability levels above target. In addition, he played an instrumental role in moving major projects forward, including the HI offshore gas project and the Bonga North development, both of which are expected to contribute significantly to Nigeria’s future energy landscape.

Reflecting on his departure, de Jong expressed gratitude for the support he received from colleagues, partners and stakeholders during his years in Nigeria.

“I’m grateful for the support I have enjoyed since my time in Nigeria which has enabled us to achieve progress on many fronts. I leave with fond memories of warm friendships and strong support from colleagues in Shell and our partners.

I’m confident that Shell operations in Nigeria will continue to deliver value and growth under Elohor, given the strong leadership credentials she brings to the roles and wish Shell Nigeria every success,” he said.

Responding to her appointment, Aiboni described the new role as an opportunity to further strengthen Shell’s contribution to Nigeria’s economic and energy development.

“I’m excited at the opportunity to continue to contribute to the efficient delivery of Shell’s business in Nigeria and thereby power progress in a country we’ve been part of for more than 60 years.

Marno has led from his heart these six plus years, sustaining operations and breaking new grounds in project delivery and growth. It’s a legacy I’m keen to build on with the support of colleagues and other stakeholders,” she stated.

As she prepares to assume leadership of Shell’s Nigerian business, industry observers view her appointment as more than a historic first. Rather, it represents the culmination of decades of experience, performance and leadership within one of the world’s largest energy companies.

Furthermore, it reinforces the growing influence of Nigerian professionals in shaping the future of global energy operations while positioning Shell to build on recent achievements across its operations in the country.