* Elisabeth Brinton leaves for new role, she says
* Shell creates two new renewables leadership roles
* Thomas Brostrøm to head renewables generation
* Steve Hill to head energy marketing
By Ron Bousso
LONDON, Jan 28 (Reuters) - Shell's head of
renewable energies Elisabeth Brinton has stepped down less than
two years after taking the reins of the business which the
company seeks to rapidly grow as part of its strategy to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions.
Brinton, who joined Shell in 2018, said in a LinkedIn post https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/looking-back-ahead-elisabeth-brinton/?trackingId=nHorN88xuE947jPJnruQ6w%3D%3D
that she was leaving Shell for a new role, but not with a
competitor. She became head of renewables and energy solutions
in April 2020, replacing https://www.reuters.com/article/us-shell-newenergies-idUSKBN1Z81V7
Shell veteran Mark Gainsborough.
A Shell spokesperson on Friday confirmed her departure.
Following Brinton's departure, starting Feb.1, Shell will
create two new positions in the renewables leadership, the
company said.
Thomas Brostrøm, currently senior vice president for
renewables, will be appointed head of renewable generation.
Steve Hill, currently executive vice president for Shell
Energy, will be appointed head of energy marketing. Both roles
will report into Wael Sawan, head of integrated gas and energy
solutions.
Brostrøm joined Shell in August 2021 after heading the North
America offshore business for Danish firm Orsted,
the world's biggest offshore wind company.
On Thursday, BP said it had hired an executive from
Orsted to head a new offshore wind division as the British
company restructures its renewable businesses.
Shell has rapidly expanded its renewables projects under
Brinton. Earlier this month, it was awarded https://www.reuters.com/article/britain-scotwind-idCNL1N2TX0KX
together with partners a number of offshore wind licences in
the British North Sea with capacity of around 5 gigawatt. It has
also made a number of solar acquisitions in recent months.
Shell aims to become a net-zero greenhouse gas emissions
company by 2050. It aims to grow its spending on renewables and
low-carbon energy to $2 to $3 billion per year in the near term,
roughly 10% to 15% of its overall spending budget.
Big oil and gas companies are increasingly going
head-to-head with existing renewables firms, competing both for
staff and market share as the energy transition gathers pace.
(Reporting by Ron Bousso; editing by David Evans)
