Lebanese Wael Sawan becomes new Shell CEO

The Lebanese-Canadian Wael Sawan has officially become the newest CEO of the British multinational oil and gas company, Shell.  

Wael was previously Director of Integrated Gas, Renewables, and Energy Solutions and has been an Executive Committee member since 2019, when he was chosen as Upstream Director.  

Sawan joined Shell in 1997 and has worked in the company's core business units, where he served in leading positions, including Vice President for Commercial, New Business, and LNG in Qatar, Managing Director and Chairman of the Qatar Shell companies, and Executive Vice President of Shell's Deep-Water business.  

Born in 1974 in Lebanon and growing up in the United Arab Emirates and Canada, he holds a Master's degree in engineering from McGill University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.  

Sawan's focus in this prestigious role is to help build the "energy system of tomorrow" by delivering more reliable, affordable, and cleaner energy.  

When announcing Wael's transition as CEO on September 15, 2022, Shell's Chair, Sir Andrew Mackenzie, said that Sawan was appointed after being "an exceptional leader" and having many qualities needed to drive Shell through future growth.  

"His track record of commercial, operational, and transformational success reflects his broad, deep experience and understanding of Shell and the energy sector and his strategic clarity. He combines these qualities with a passion for people, which enables him to get the best from those around him," Mackenzie added.