Shell Oil To Name Female President For U.S. Operations: Report

HOUSTON, TX — A seismic shift will take place in the American arm of Netherlands-based Royal Dutch Shell in the next few months as two longtime executives will retire and their replacement takes over.

In a report Monday by the Houston Business Journal, Shell will name Gretchen Watkins, former CEO of Maersk Oil, as its new president and U.S. country chair. Watkins is expected to join the Shell team on May 1, according to the report.

Watkins will eventually replace current president Bruce Culpepper, who announced he will step down from his role Dec. 31 after more than 37 years at Shell. Before Watkins assumes that role, though, she'll serve as executive vice president of unconventionals on July 1 to replace 36-year Shell veteran Greg Guidry, who will step down on June 31.

Watkins will take over the president and U.S. country chair on Jan. 1, according to the report.

Watkins became COO of Maersk Oil in January 2014 and was CEO of Denmark-based Maersk Oil starting in October 2016, according to World Oil. Watkins announced in September she would pursue other career opportunities after the completion of Total’s acquisition of Maersk Oil.

Shell's West Houston campus has about 6,000 employees.

Here is a YouTube video of Watkins promoting Global Safety Day nearly a year ago.

(Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)