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Our leadership
Meet the individuals who provide experienced guidance and strategic insights to our staff and our customer teams. Each has specialised energy expertise that drives our efforts to give customers optimal return on investment.
Ed Daniels - Executive Vice President
Ed Daniels was appointed Executive Vice President of Global Solutions Downstream within Shell’s Projects & Technology organisation in July 2009. He has responsibility for technology support to Shell’s downstream assets and products (including fuels and lubricants), as well as Shell Global Solutions’ and CRI/Criterion commercial activities spanning licensed technology, catalysts and services to customers in the oil and gas, petrochemical and other processing industries.
In June 2011, Ed was elected as Technical Vice President of the Council of the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE), the global professional institution for chemical and process engineers. He attained Chartered Engineer status in 2010 and was elected as a Fellow of the IChemE the same year.
Ed received a Masters of Chemical Engineering degree from Imperial College, London in 1988 and joined Shell in the same year to work in its refining business. He undertook a number of assignments and, during this period, studied for his MBA with Henley Business School which he was awarded in 1995.
Following his time in refining, Ed joined the sales and marketing division of Shell covering responsibilities in the UK and later Europe before moving to Singapore in 2000 to undertake a number of business projects in the sales and marketing area across Asia Pacific.
Returning to London in 2003, Ed took responsibility as the General Manager for Shell’s Global Lubricants Base Oil activities - manufacturing, supply and sales. In November 2006 he re-located to Houston, Texas to become President of Shell catalyst business CRI/Criterion Inc. which develops, manufactures and markets refining and petrochemical catalysts for both Shell and external customers worldwide. During this assignment, Ed’s remit was extended to include wider commercial activity in technology and consultancy delivered under the Shell Global Solutions brand.
His current portfolio is delivered primarily through teams working out of Shell’s technology centres in Amsterdam, Houston, Bangalore, Hamburg and Chester in the UK.
Süleyman M Özmen - Vice President Refining and Chemical Licensing
A Turkish national, has over 34 years of petrochemical and refining industry experience. He joined Shell in January 2006 and relocated to the Hague to lead the worldwide Hydroprocessing Licensing Organization. He previously worked for UOP for 20 years, with BP-Amoco for 8 years and IFP for 3 years.
At UOP he previously held positions as Research & Development Manager, Regional Licensing Sales Manager and Commercial Director in Service & Consultancy Business. At Amoco, he was the Chemical Licensing General Manager and at BP the Polyolefins Licensing Commercial Director.
He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Chemistry from the University of Paris and Chemical Engineering Degree from ENSPM, France. He also holds an MBA from the University of Chicago.
Sally Martin - Vice President of Commercial Services
A native of Cork, Ireland, Sally was appointed Vice President of Commercial Services for Shell Global Solutions in November 2010.
Sally first joined Shell in 1987 as an Instrument Engineer at Stanlow Refinery in the UK. In 1989, trained as a Process Control Engineer, and subsequently became an Oil Movements Maintenance Engineer. In 1995, moved into Construction Project Management. In 2001, became Stanlow Contracting and Procurement Manager for 2 years, and following that, took up a position as Area Distribution Manger for the UK and Ireland.
Moved to Petit-Couronne Refinery in Rouen, France as General Manager in November 2005. Returned to the UK in November 2007 after the divestment of the refinery, and worked as a Consultancy Manager in the Downstream Management Consultancy until October 2010.
Sally earned her Electrical Engineering degree at University College in Cork.
Brian P. Smith - President, Criterion Catalysts & Technologies
A native of New York, Brian was appointed President of Criterion Catalysts & Technologies in September 2009. He joined shell 29 years ago and has had a wide variety of roles. He previously served for five years as VP – Supply, Distribution and Commercial Fuels Marketing for Motiva Enterprises LLC a major US based integrated refining and marketing which is a 50/50 venture between Shell and Saudi Aramco. Prior roles include Director Lube Base Oils and Specialty Products and VP Business Management of Deer Park Refining LP a refining venture in Deer Park TX (Shell / Pemex JV).
Other experiences in Shell include management of the U.S. aviation fuel business, management of Shell’s interests in several crude and product pipeline joint ventures, financing and investing in the treasury group, corporate planning, mergers and acquisition specialist (chemical downstream) and a variety of financial management roles. Prior to joining Shell, he worked for Price Waterhouse in New York offering consulting and audit services to Fortune 500 clients.