Shell picks mergers US expert as finance chief

Shell has a new chief financial officer: a Californian M&A veteran who runs finance at the energy major’s gas business.

Jessica Uhl, who went to Berkeley, will take over from veteran chief financial officer Simon Henry next March.

Today’s appointment marks a departure for Shell — its previous finance chiefs have been long-standing “lifers” at the company. Henry was a 34-year veteran of the group.

Uhl, 48, joined 12 years ago having spent time at Citibank in San Francisco and Enron in Texas, where had a hand in M&A work. She also led the sale of Shell’s solar assets.

Uhl is the second female to hold the role there. Judy Boynton was Shell CFO in the early noughties.

Chief executive Ben van Beurden said: “Jessica combines an external perspective with broad Shell experience and is a highly regarded executive."