(Ecofin Agency) - Royal Dutch Shell has appointed Peter Costello (photo, right) as its new Vice President for Nigeria and Gabon.

Peter Costello succeeds Markus Droll who has been the Vice President since 2013. He transferred to Shell after the merger with BG in June 2016.

“I come to Nigeria with high hopes of what we can do to build on the excellent work that I’ve met on the ground. Shell Companies in Nigeria are major contributors to the economy, through the energy they produce and the revenues they generate for the country among others, but also via their supply chains, local content and social investment. Given the exceptional talent here and the huge resource base of the country, I’m confident we can address the challenges in our operating environment, and continue to deliver real value to all stakeholders. My sentiments for Gabon are similar as we work to reposition our business and take advantage of new opportunities,” he told Vanguard news.

Markus Droll joined Shell in 1985. He first came to Nigeria in 2006, where he led the Corporate and Commercial Directorate, and then in 2007, became Vice President Technical Africa. From 2009 to 2012, he was Vice President Technical Asia, Upstream International and was appointed Vice President Nigeria and Gabon in January 2013. Droll is to assume a new role of Executive Vice President, Projects in Shell International based in Rijswijk, the Netherlands.

“The last four years have been exciting as they have been challenging in what can easily pass as my most satisfying job in my career so far. Nigeria and Gabon continue to be fertile ground in our portfolio, and it has been a privilege working with staff and other stakeholders to deliver the kind of value that we can all be proud of both in the onshore and offshore oil and gas production,” Droll said

Anita Fatunji