LONDON, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Europe's biggest oil companyRoyal Dutch Shell named John Abbott as its newdownstream director on Thursday and said he would join thecompany's executive committee.
A Briton and a Shell "lifer" who joined straight fromuniversity in 1981, Abbott takes on the role as Shell and itsfellow top-tier multinational oil companies face pressure tore-invent themselves. Returns on investment are slowing and bigprojects are becoming ever more expensive.
Some smaller oil companies in the United States havedemerged their refining divisions into separate companies in anattempt to deliver more clarity of direction for investors.
Abbott, whose new position takes effect from Oct. 1, takesover the downstream role from Ben van Beurden, who will becomeRoyal Dutch Shell's new chief executive from Jan. 1 next year.
Like many of Shell's senior executives past and present,Abbott has been with the company for more than three decades. He joined the group in 1981 and has held management posts in inAsia, north America and Europe in the upstream oil producingside of the business as well as in refining.
Van Beurden is replacing Peter Voser, who surprised insidersand shareholders earlier this year with news he will retire atthe age of 55.
