Shell was seen at a petrol station in London on January 31, 2008. REUTERS Toby Melville File Photo
LONDON, January 28, Reuters -- Shell's RDSa. Elisabeth Brinton, head of renewable energy, has stepped down less than two years after taking over the business that the company wants to grow as part of its strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Brinton, who joined Shell in 2018, said in a LinkedIn post that she was leaving Shell for a new role but not with a competitor. She replaced Shell veteran Mark Gainsborough as head of renewables and energy solutions in April 2020.
After Brinton leaves, Shell will create two new positions in the renewables leadership starting February 1, the company said.
Thomas Brostr m will be appointed head of renewable generation, a senior vice president for renewables.
Steve Hill, who is currently executive vice president for Shell Energy, will be appointed head of energy marketing. Both positions will report to Wael Sawan, head of integrated gas and energy solutions.
Brostr m joined Shell in August 2021 after leading the North America offshore business for the Danish firm Orsted ORSTED.CO, the world's biggest offshore wind company.
On Thursday, BP said that an executive from Orsted had been hired to lead a new offshore wind division as the British company restructures its renewable businesses. Shell has expanded its renewables projects under Brinton, as a result of the nL 8 N 2 U 62 N 7 It was awarded a number of offshore wind licences in the British North Sea with a capacity of around 5 gigawatts earlier this month. In the last few months it has made a number of solar acquisitions.
By 2050, Shell hopes to be a net-zero greenhouse gas emissions company. It wants to increase its spending on renewables and low-carbon energy to $2 to $3 billion per year in the near term, about 10% to 15% of its spending budget.
As the energy transition gets more complex, big oil and gas companies are going head-to-head with existing renewables firms, competing for staff and market share.