Bernardus Cornelis Adriana Margriet “Ben” van Beurden is a Dutch businessman who is the CEO of Shell plc. He was born on 23 April 1958. Van Beurden joined Shell in 1983, after graduating with a master’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands.
During his tenure as head of Shell, the company was ordered by a Netherlands court to reduce its carbon emissions by 45% by 2030. Van Beurden described the ruling as “unreasonable” and said the company had no intentions to meet the court-ordered climate targets.
In early‑2022, ClientEarth began civil proceedings against van Beurden and 12 other directors of UK‑based Shell plc in an attempt to hold these individuals personally responsible for failing to adequately prepare the company for a transition to carbon neutrality. More specifically ClientEarth asserts that these individuals have a fiduciary duty under the UK Companies Act to operate in accordance with the 2015 Paris Agreement.
Who will Succeed Ben van Beurden as CEO of Shell?
The CEO of energy giant Shell, Ben van Beurden, is stepping down at the end of the year after nine years in charge and will be replaced by Wael Sawan, the company announced Thursday.
Sawan, who has worked for Shell for 25 years, is currently director of integrated gas, renewables and energy solutions, and has been a member of Shell’s executive committee for three years.