CALGARY – The head of Royal Dutch Shell’s Canadian operations is leaving her job at the end of this year.
Lorraine Mitchelmore has been Shell Canada’s president and country chair for past six years and has led the global energy giant’s heavy oil business for three.
Mitchelmore says she decided to move on in order to spend more time with her two daughters, the youngest of whom is in Grade 6.
She says her next career steps will involve contributing to Canada’s prosperity by serving on select boards.
Michael Crothers — now vice-president of unconventionals and North America for Shell — will be the company’s next leader in Canada starting Jan. 1.
Shell recently scrapped its Carmon Creek oilsands project in northwestern Alberta and opened a major carbon capture and storage project northeast of Edmonton.
Mitchelmore said in a statement she’s proud of what her team accomplished during her time at Shell Canada, bringing down operating costs by 30 per cent and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 20 per cent.
“And, with the recent start-up of the Quest carbon capture and storage project, we have created a blueprint to advance CCS globally,” she said.
“I appreciate that there is uncertainty in our business environment, but with our focus on improving economic and environmental competitiveness, I believe that both Shell and Canada’s energy industry are well-positioned to weather current headwinds and seize future opportunities.”