Shell appoints Elohor Aiboni as Executive Vice President and Country Chair Nigeria. She becomes the first Nigerian to hold the role in Shell’s history
Shell has appointed Elohor Aiboni as Executive Vice President and Country Chair Nigeria. The appointment takes effect on August 1, 2026. With this move, Aiboni becomes the first Nigerian to hold the combined leadership role in Shell’s history. She succeeds Marno de Jong, who is leaving the energy company after 34 years to pursue another opportunity.
The announcement was made by Shell’s Communications Manager, Gladys Afam-Anadu. Currently, Aiboni serves as Asset Director at Brunei Shell Petroleum and brings more than 24 years of experience across Shell’s operations in Nigeria and abroad.
Reacting to her appointment, Aiboni expressed excitement about the new responsibility. She said, “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 also praised the work of her predecessor. According to her, de Jong’s leadership helped sustain operations and drive growth over the last six years. As a result, she said she hopes to build on that legacy alongside colleagues and stakeholders.
De Jong also shared his thoughts as he prepares to leave the company. He said, “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 role.”
During his time in charge, Shell’s Bonga deepwater asset maintained strong operational performance. He also helped advance key projects, including the HI offshore gas project and the Bonga North development.
Aiboni graduated in Chemical Engineering from the University of Benin in 1999. She joined Shell in 2002 as a Production Operations Supervisor at the Imo River fields. Over the years, she worked across offshore, shallow-water, and onshore operations. In 2021, she became the first female Managing Director of SNEPCo. Under her leadership, the Bonga field produced its one-billionth barrel of oil in 2023. She later moved to Brunei in 2024, where she has been overseeing asset performance, production activities, and project delivery.
