Brian Davis took up the role of Shell Vice President (VP) for Global Base Chemicals on May 1, 2011. He succeeds Graham van?t Hoff who has been appointed Chairman for Shell in the UK. Prior to this appointment Brian was Vice President Downstream Strategy, with responsibility across Shell?s oil products and chemicals activities.

As VP for Base Chemicals, Brian is responsible for the profitability, growth and portfolio optimisation of Shell?s lower olefins and aromatics activities globally.

?This is an exciting time to be joining Shell?s chemicals business,? said Brian. ?We are growing our business to meet increased demand for petrochemicals and strengthening and expanding our current base chemicals capacity is part of this plan. We are also developing cracker projects in China and Qatar.?

Brian has extensive Shell experience spanning process technology, refinery operations, supply chain and strategy. He joined Shell?s Clyde refinery in Australia in 1988 after graduating in chemical engineering from the University of Sydney. Brian moved to the Netherlands in 1994 to manage refining strategy and oil market analysis, and then to Turkey in 1997 where he led refining, supply and distribution operations.

After running Shell?s global crude oil chartering activities from London, Brian became General Manager of Shell West Supply and Trading in Barbados. Returning to London in 2005, Brian was General Manager for Supply Strategy Americas and then for Lubricants Supply Chain in Europe and Africa. He took up the role of Vice President Downstream Strategy in 2009.