Hugh Mitchell named as Shell interim legal boss
We can only speculate about the sudden resignation of Peter Rees QC days after Ben van Beurden took up his new role as Chief Executive Officer of the company. Since then, Shell’s image and reputation has undergone a transformation from a successful multinational to a company in crisis, having issued a profits warning, abandoned mega projects and embarked on a massive fire sale of assets. The temporary appointment of a non lawyer to be head of Shell’s legal department, as announced today, further undermines confidence in the stability of Royal Dutch Shell Plc.
By John Donovan
The Lawyer reports today that Hugh Mitchell, the head of Shell HR (an executive director of Royal Dutch Shell Plc) is now in temporary charge of Shell legal assisted by Michiel Brandjes, Company Secretary and General Counsel Corporate.
Sounds like desperation stakes bearing in mind that Mitchell is not even a lawyer and is also a member of the executive committee responsible for the current meltdown at Shell.
He also has ultimate responsibility for Shell internal and external communications, Shell real estate, Shell global security, Shell health and Shell aircraft. Now head of legal without any legal qualifications. Jack of all trades…
We can only speculate about the sudden resignation of Peter Rees QC days after Ben van Beurden took up his new role as Chief Executive Officer of the company.
Since then, Shell’s image and reputation has undergone a transformation from a successful multinational to a company in crisis, having issued a profits warning, abandoned mega projects and embarked on a massive fire sale of assets.
I have repeatedly used the term “Fire Sale” to describe what is going on and note that the same description is now being used by others:
Why Royal Dutch Shell’s Fire Sale May be Cause for Concern: The Motley Fool
The temporary appointment of a non lawyer to be head of Shell’s legal department, as announced today, further undermines confidence in the stability of Royal Dutch Shell Plc.
