Shell

The Shell Oil Company ...

In March 2004, the controversy over the exaggeration of the oil and gas reserves of Shell resulted in the resignation of the then chairman, Philip Watts, and Walter van de Vijver, who was responsible for exploration and production. In an attempt to manage the crisis Shell hired the Brunswick Group to help it manage the crisis. "Brunswick has recently come on board, but we don't really say much more about what they do," Corrigan told PR Week.

PR Week also reported that for several years Shell had - and continued to - use the London-based Finsbury to handle financial PR for the company and was also advising on managing the crisis on the overstated reserves. [1]

Case Studies

• Race-baiting Strategy Helps Keep Shell Pumping in Nigeria

Other SourceWatch resources

• Coalition for Southern Africa (describes Shell's "Neptune" strategy for engagement with apartheid in South Africa).
• oil industry
• Peter Sandman who advised Shell at the time of the sentencing and execution of Ken Saro Wiwa.

External Links

• Tom Acitelli, "Royal Dutch/Shell enlists Brunswick amid audit, exits", PR Week, April 26, 2004.
• Michael Renner, The New Oil Order. Washington's War on Iraq is the Lynchpin to Controling Persian Gulf Oil, Foreign Policy in Focus at CorpWatch, February 14, 2003.
• Katherine Griffiths and Danielle Rossingh, "Shell non-execs hire advisers as van de Vijver speaks out," Independent (UK), April 15, 2004.
• Katherine Griffiths, "Lies, cover-ups, fat cats and an oil giant in crisis. Shell admits deceiving shareholders; Sacked chairman savaged in report", Independent (UK), April 20, 2004.