Royal Dutch Shell announced that after a 34-year career with the company, Unconventional Resources Director and U.S. Country Chair, Marvin Odum, will leave Shell at the end of March, 2016.
Concurrent with Marvin’s departure, and in a move that will simplify Shell’s structure, the Athabasca Oil Sands Project and the Scotford Upgrader in Canada will join the global Downstream organization under Downstream Director, John Abbott; and the Shale Resources business will join the global Upstream organization under Upstream Director, Andy Brown. As a result of these changes, The Unconventional Resources Directorate will cease to exist.
Since joining Shell as an engineer in 1982, Marvin has held a number of commercial and technical leadership roles of increasing responsibility. He has held the position of U.S. Country Chair and President of Shell Oil Company since 2008, and joined Royal Dutch Shell’s Executive Committee as Upstream Americas Director in July 2009.
Odum will be replaced as U.S. Country Chair and President of Shell Oil Company by Bruce Culpepper, currently Executive Vice President HR, Unconventional Resources and Regional Coordination. In his new role, which is effective April 1, 2016, Culpepper, who is a U.S. citizen and has worked for Shell for 34 years, will continue the company’s advocacy in the U.S. on a wide range of energy policy issues.