Shell Appoints Elohor Aiboni First Female Country Chair For Nigeria

Shell Plc has appointed Elohor Aiboni as its Executive Vice President and Country Chair for Nigeria.

With the appointment, which takes effect on August 1, 2026, Aiboni becomes the first Nigerian and the first woman to hold the combined position in the company’s 60-year history.

She replaces Marno de Jong, who is retiring after leading Shell’s Nigerian operations for six years and spending 34 years with the company.

The incoming Country Chair has over 24 years of experience with Shell. She has worked across the company’s onshore and offshore businesses in Nigeria, and has held international roles in Kazakhstan and Brunei.

In 2021, Aiboni became the first female Managing Director of Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo). Under her leadership, the subsidiary produced its one billionth barrel of oil from the Bonga field in 2023. Before her new appointment, she was posted to Brunei in 2024 to oversee production and project delivery.

Reacting to her appointment, Aiboni said she is ready to build on De Jong’s achievements and work with stakeholders to grow the business.

“I’m excited about the opportunity to continue contributing to the efficient delivery of Shell’s business in Nigeria and thereby power progress in a country where we have been present for more than 60 years. Marno has led with his heart over the past six years, sustaining operations and breaking new ground in project delivery and growth. It is a legacy I am keen to build on,” she said.