Shell has appointed Elohor Aiboni as Executive Vice President and Country Chair for Nigeria, marking another milestone in the career of one of the country’s most prominent female oil industry leaders.
The appointment will see Aiboni oversee Shell’s operations in Nigeria, Africa’s largest crude oil producer, as the energy giant continues to navigate a changing energy landscape and pursue new investments in the country. The role becomes effective on August 1, 2026.
Aiboni succeeds Marno de Jong, who is leaving the company after more than three decades with Shell. Her elevation follows a career spanning more than two decades across Shell’s offshore, shallow-water and onshore businesses, including international assignments in Kazakhstan and Brunei.
The Nigerian executive first gained widespread recognition in 2021 when she became the first woman to lead Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo), the company’s deep-water subsidiary in Nigeria. During her tenure, she oversaw key offshore assets, including the Bonga field, one of Nigeria’s flagship deep-water oil projects.
A chemical engineering graduate of the University of Benin with a master’s degree in Integrated Environmental Management from the University of Bath in the United Kingdom, Aiboni began her Shell career as a trainee engineer before rising through management and operational leadership roles. Her experience has covered production operations, project management, asset performance and business strategy.
Industry observers view her appointment as a significant step for gender representation in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, which has historically been dominated by men. Her rise through the ranks reflects broader efforts within multinational energy companies to promote diversity in leadership positions.
As Shell seeks to strengthen its position in Nigeria’s evolving energy market, Aiboni is expected to play a central role in driving operational performance, investment decisions and stakeholder engagement while supporting the company’s long-term growth strategy in the country.
