Shell Appoints Elohor Aiboni as First Female Country Chair in Historic Leadership Milestone
Shell has appointed Elohor Aiboni as Executive Vice President and Country Chair for Nigeria, making history as the first woman and the first Nigerian to occupy the combined leadership position in the company's more than six decades of operations in the country.
The appointment, which takes effect on August 1, 2026, marks a significant milestone for the global energy giant and underscores the growing prominence of Nigerian professionals in senior leadership roles within multinational corporations.
Aiboni succeeds Marno de Jong, who is stepping down after more than six years as Country Chair and a distinguished 34-year career with Shell.
Her appointment crowns more than two decades of service with the company, during which she has held increasingly strategic roles across Nigeria and internationally. Her career spans offshore, shallow-water and onshore operations, as well as leadership assignments in Kazakhstan and Brunei, giving her extensive operational and global business experience.
Aiboni has consistently broken new ground throughout her career at Shell. In 2021, she became the first woman to serve as Managing Director of Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo), the company's deep-water exploration and production subsidiary.
During her tenure, SNEPCo achieved a major industry milestone when the Bonga field produced its one billionth barrel of oil in 2023, reaffirming the strategic importance of deep-water production to Nigeria's oil and gas industry and Shell's long-term investment plans in the country.
In 2024, she was appointed to a senior leadership role in Brunei, where she was responsible for asset performance, production and project delivery. The international assignment further strengthened her leadership credentials ahead of her elevation to one of Shell's most senior positions in Africa.
Commenting on her appointment, Aiboni said she was excited to return to Nigeria in a broader leadership capacity and looked forward to advancing Shell's operations in one of the company's most important markets.
She also paid tribute to her predecessor, Marno de Jong, acknowledging his leadership in sustaining business performance and advancing key projects during a period of significant transformation in Nigeria's energy sector.
Shell equally recognised de Jong's contributions, noting that his tenure was marked by steady operational performance and progress on major investment projects, including developments related to the Bonga North project and offshore gas initiatives.
De Jong expressed confidence in Aiboni's ability to lead the company, describing her as an accomplished executive with the experience and leadership capabilities required to guide Shell's next phase of growth in Nigeria.
Beyond its corporate significance, Aiboni's appointment represents a landmark moment for gender inclusion within Africa's energy industry, where women remain significantly underrepresented in executive leadership positions.
Her elevation also reflects a broader shift by multinational corporations toward entrusting experienced local professionals with strategic leadership responsibilities. Industry observers say the appointment highlights the depth of Nigerian talent within the global energy sector and reinforces the country's growing influence in international business leadership.
As Shell continues to reshape its operations and pursue new investment opportunities in Nigeria's evolving energy landscape, Aiboni is expected to play a pivotal role in driving operational excellence, strengthening stakeholder engagement and positioning the company for sustainable long-term growth.
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