THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH (UK): Von Pierer tipped to take chair at Royal Dutch Shell: “Von Pierer has been short-listed to chair the Anglo-Dutch oil group, which is close to completing the merger of its two operating subsidiaries to form one company, Royal Dutch Shell.”: Sunday 3 July 2005

By Sylvia Pfeifer (Filed: 03/07/2005)

Heinrich von Pierer, the respected former boss of Siemens, the German industrial giant, has emerged as a leading candidate to become the new chairman of Shell.

Von Pierer has been short-listed to chair the Anglo-Dutch oil group, which is close to completing the merger of its two operating subsidiaries to form one company, Royal Dutch Shell.

The German industrialist stepped down as chief executive of Siemens earlier this year after 12 years at the helm, taking on the part-time role of chairman of the company's supervisory board.

Von Pierer, 64, is rated by many as the most influential European business leader of the past decade and his appointment as non-executive chairman of Shell would be welcomed by its investors.

The oil group has instructed Egon Zehnder, the head hunters, to find "the best man for the job". Although British and Dutch nationals are not being ruled out per se, the company is keen to encourage other nationalities.

The successful candidate would be expected to work three days a week and be based mainly in The Hague.

Shareholders in the oil group last week voted overwhelmingly in favour of the merger, initiated by Jeroen van der Veer, the chief executive, in the wake of the company's overstatement of its oil and gas reserves. Shares in the new company start trading on July.

A spokesman for Shell declined to comment.

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