After Graduating in Civil Law from Leiden University in 1987, Gerard started his career in organisation consultancy in the Netherlands. In 1990 he joined Shell. In Shell, Gerard held several different HR positions in Rotterdam, Assen and Hamburg. In mid 1996 he changed to the role of Marketing Manager Retail in Germany. With an appetite for more commercial experience he returned to the Netherlands in 1998 to become Commercial Manager for Shell Global Solutions, selling technology solutions to key industries in Europe. In 2000 Gerard became Head of Recruitment, with Shell International, responsible for delivery of the critical talent intake for Shell's diversified businesses around the World. Gerard then joined IT for Shell late 2003 in the position of VP Human Resources where he managed amongst others the critical off shoring and outsourcing work involving more than 5000 staff.

Company

Shell is a global group of energy and petrochemicals companies. It consists of the businesses of Upstream, Integrated Gas, Downstream, and Projects & Technology. With approximately 90,000 employees in more than 70 countries and territories, Shell is helping to meet the world's growing demand for energy in economically, environmentally and socially responsible ways.