International outcry as Brunei introduces sharia law and takes country back to the dark ages
Royal Dutch Shell, an Anglo-Dutch multinational, runs two major operations in Brunei as a joint venture with the Brunei government. A spokesman, Jonathan French, said the company would not comment on the possible impact on its employees.
Extracts from an article by Andrew Buncombe published 30 April 2014 by The Independent
The Sultan of Brunei, an absolute monarch who pays for a garrison of British troops to be stationed is his oil rich nation, will on Thursday dismiss the concerns of human rights campaigners and start imposing sharia law. Many of the laws, which include the dismemberment of limbs and stoning to death, will apply to both Muslims and non-Muslims.
Royal Dutch Shell, an Anglo-Dutch multinational, runs two major operations in Brunei as a joint venture with the Brunei government. A spokesman, Jonathan French, said the company would not comment on the possible impact on its employees.
The sultan was for many years was involved in a high-profile legal battle with his brother, a playboy accused of misappropriating £9 billion of government assets and who reportedly owned a yacht called Tits.
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Sanctions fear forces Shell to end all new Russian investment
Extract from an article by Ben Hoyle and Lily Hyde published May 1 2014 by The Times
Europe’s biggest oil company froze all future investment in Russia over the Ukraine crisis yesterday as the IMF said that the Kremlin faced an imminent recession because of Western sanctions. Royal Dutch Shell, one of the biggest foreign investors in Russian energy, warned that it would not “be jumping into new investments anytime soon” because sanctions beefed up by America and Europe in the past week could curtail its own operations.
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Big Oil dollars flow into Ukraine, despite conflict
Extracts from a CNBC article by Dina Gusovsky published 1 May 2014
Yuriy Boyko, an ethnic Ukrainian and former energy minister under ousted President Viktor Yanukovich, told CNBC that he has met with senior executives of Royal Dutch Shell about investments or potential investments in the country. Royal Dutch Shell is currently the biggest player in the Ukrainian market. The company declined to comment on specific dollar figures, but said that it has ongoing operations in the region. Shell spokesman Curtis Smith told CNBC that it employs about 2,500 people in Ukraine, many as contract workers. The company is involved in two exploration projects, both in eastern Ukraine, including in the Donetsk and Kharkov regions, the most troubled in the country. To date, the company said operations have not been affected despite rising tension in those areas. “We continue to prepare for exploration activities on Yuzivska area,” Smith told CNBC. “We monitor trade controls and sanctions closely and will respond appropriately to ensure that we comply with all applicable international sanctions and related measures.”
Dear old Chris Finlayson
“With hindsight you should revisit his CV printed out by the BG Group at the time of his appointment, a work of fiction that Hans Christian Andersen would have been proud of. You are right, your web site warned the World about his previous track record but such foresight is often ignored.”
Comment received from Bill Campbell, Retired HSE Group Auditor, Shell International
John
There was many years ago a principle put forward by LJ Peter in his 1969 book as to why things always go wrong in organisations. Peter espoused that managers were oft promoted into positions that they were incompetent to handle. So it was with Chris Finlayson who was tracked up through the ranks holding on to the coat tails of his mentor TFA Brinded. I used to call it the parasitical approach to development and promotion through attachment to a big powerful animal who was on an accelerated promotion curve the employee could avoid the normal HR assessment process safeguarded by his powerful mentor. In return Brinded had a set of disciples who would be loyal and unquestioning and whom he could micromanage as he saw fit.
Such was the case with dear old Chris. With hindsight you should revisit his CV printed out by the BG Group at the time of his appointment, a work of fiction that Hans Christian Andersen would have been proud of. You are right, your web site warned the World about his previous track record but such foresight is often ignored. Perhaps Malcolm will see him all right at Network rail or elsewhere.
Regards
Bill
For more information about the relevant CV see: BG Group corporate incubator for Shell strays?
RESPONSE BY JOHN DONOVAN
Bill
According to the reports of his sacking, Finlayson received a £1.3 million payoff, so he has plenty of funds for legal action against us if he contends that anything we have stated is untrue.
The TRUTH will set you FREE.
