Hans Wijers

Biography

Hans Wijers was a Deputy Chair and Senior Independent Director Born January 11, 1951. A Dutch national, appointed a Non-executive Director of the Company with effect from January 2009. He was Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Management of AkzoNobel N.V. from 2003 to 2012, having become a Board member in 2002. From 1999 to 2002, he was Senior Partner at The Boston Consulting Group. He was Minister of Economic Affairs of the Netherlands from 1994 to 1998, and was previously Managing Partner of The Boston Consulting Group. He obtained a PhD in economics from Erasmus University Rotterdam while teaching there. From 2012 to 2016 he was Chairman of the Supervisory Board of AFC Ajax N.V. and from 2013 to 2016 he was a Non-executive Director of GlaxoSmithKline plc. He is Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Heineken N.V., a member of the Supervisory Board of HAL Holding N.V. and a trustee of various charities. 

Research Interest

We are a global group of energy and petrochemical companies with an average of 92,000 employees in more than 70 countries. We use advanced technologies and take an innovative approach to help build a sustainable energy future. Our operations are divided into four businesses: Upstream, Integrated Gas and New Energies, Downstream, and Projects & Technology. In Upstream we focus on exploration for new liquids and natural gas reserves and on developing major new projects where our technology and know-how add value for resource holders. In Integrated Gas and New Energies, we focus on liquefying natural gas (LNG) and converting gas to liquids (GTL) so that it can be safely stored and shipped to markets around the world. The New Energies business has been established to explore and invest in new low-carbon opportunities. In Downstream, we focus on turning crude oil into a range of refined products, which are moved and marketed around the world for domestic, industrial and transport use. In addition, we produce and sell petrochemicals for industrial use worldwide. Shell’s oil sands mining activities in North America are also part of the Downstream organisation. Our Projects & Technology business is responsible for delivering new development projects and the research and development that leads to innovative and low-cost investments for the future.