Shell Appoints Elohor Aiboni as First Nigerian Executive VP and Country Chair

​LAGOS — In a historic shift for West Africa’s energy landscape, global oil major Shell Plc has named Elohor Aiboni as its new Executive Vice President (EVP) and Country Chair for Nigeria. The landmark appointment makes Aiboni the first Nigerian and the first woman to hold the combined top leadership position in the company’s more than six decades of operations in the country.

​Taking effect on August 1, 2026, Aiboni will succeed Marno de Jong, who is leaving the multinational energy giant to pursue outside opportunities after a distinguished 34-year career with Shell, including over six years steering the company’s Nigerian businesses.

​A Trailblazer Returns

​Aiboni is no stranger to breaking corporate glass ceilings. In 2021, she made headlines as the first female Managing Director of the Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo), where she effectively managed the country’s deepwater business. During her successful tenure at SNEPCo, she oversaw massive deepwater operations and key investment programs, steering Nigeria’s flagship Bonga asset to hit its historic one-billionth-barrel production milestone in 2023.

​In 2024, she transitioned to an elite international assignment as Asset Director at Brunei Shell Petroleum—a joint venture between Shell and the Brunei government—where she successfully managed asset performance, large-scale production, and project execution. With more than 24 years of experience inside the Shell Group, Aiboni’s extensive career covers onshore, shallow-water, and complex offshore operations across Nigeria and central Asia (Kazakhstan).

​Industry analysts view her appointment not just as a victory for local content and gender diversity, but as a deeply strategic move by Shell. Her elevation follows a deliberate succession path, signaling that the company has been grooming a homegrown expert to manage its shifting priorities in Africa’s largest oil-producing nation.

​Handing Over a Transitioning Giant

​Outgoing Country Chair Marno de Jong leaves behind a legacy of strong asset performance. Since taking the reins in 2020 as Senior Vice President before expanding his portfolio to EVP and Country Chair, de Jong navigated Shell through a period of structural transformation.

ADVERTISEMENT

​Under his watch, the Bonga asset sustained high operational availability well above corporate targets. Crucially, de Jong helped advance final investment decisions on high-priority infrastructure, including the HI offshore gas project and the Bonga North deepwater development—both foundational to Shell’s long-term strategy to expand gas and deepwater output.

​”I’m grateful for the support I have enjoyed since my time in Nigeria, which has enabled us to achieve progress on many fronts,” de Jong stated in a farewell address. “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.”

​Accepting the baton, Aiboni expressed her readiness to drive the energy giant forward. “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,” she said. “Marno has led from his heart these six-plus years, sustaining operations and breaking new ground in project delivery and growth. It’s a legacy I’m keen to build on with the support of colleagues and other stakeholders.”

​The Strategic Road Ahead

​Aiboni takes the driver’s seat at a defining juncture for international oil companies (IOCs) in Nigeria. Shell and its peers are currently balancing multi-billion-dollar local investment levels against global competition for capital, shifting domestic regulatory frameworks, and historic environmental and security complexities in parts of the onshore Niger Delta.

​In recent years, Shell has actively re-engineered its operational footprint, trimming its exposed onshore presence while aggressively doubling down on less volatile deepwater and gas ventures. Because projects like Bonga North and the HI gas development represent the exact deepwater assets where Aiboni cut her teeth, Shell frames this leadership change as a seamless continuation of strategy rather than a disruption.

​Furthermore, the appointment aligns with a broader industry push for local representation at the highest tiers of multinational oil operations—roles that historically rotated through a cycle of expatriate executives. Aiboni inherits a robust strategy centered on deepwater expansion, and the energy market will be watching closely as she manages the execution risks of bringing Shell’s next generation of Nigerian gas and oil developments online on schedule.