Marc den Hartog, President, Upstream Indonesia, Shell
31 May 2017

How did you come to be in the oil and gas industry?

While I was studying in the US, Shell offered a summer internship at a refinery in Missouri. I never looked back after that.

Aside from low commodity prices what do you believe is the greatest challenge to our industry’s future growth?

The global climate change challenge.

Where do you see the greatest opportunity in today’s global oil and gas markets and how are you positioned to capture this opportunity?

Natural Gas, as the compelling substitute for coal, and as the best fossil fuel partner to intermittent renewables such as wind and solar. Shell spotted the opportunity for internationally traded gas earlier than others and as a result has built an industry-leading portfolio.

If you could wave a magic wand over our industry, what would you change and why?

I would create a broad, united coalition of companies to respond to the increasing levels of social scrutiny we face in the developed world. 

What are the strategic priorities for your company in the next 12 months?

(1) Complete the integration of BG into the Shell business, (2) Deliver or exceed our production targets – safely, (3) utilise the opportunity of low market prices to rapidly take out costs.

What differentiates your company from similar companies working in Asia-Pacific?

(1) A bigger emphasis on natural gas as opposed to oil, (2) Deep technical & scientific capabilities and (3) Staying power

How would you describe your company in one sentence to a new client/partner/investor?

Your preferred partner for energy solutions.

What is your goal in attending this event and what takeaways would you like other attendees to go home with regarding your company and your work both in Asia and further afield?

An increased collective understanding of the challenges faced by the industry and of plausible responses to those challenges.

What is your proudest work-related achievement to date?

Managing Hazira LNG in India from its inception all the way to successful commercial operations.

What one businessman/woman do you most admire and why?

My father, for building his business from scratch, steadily, with no one to help him.

What was the wisest advice you received from a mentor?

Always eat lunch away from your desk.

What advice would you pass onto a recent graduate wishing to work in oil & gas?

(1) Select your roles on the basis of what you enjoy doing the most. (2) to succeed, commit to this industry for the long term.

Name one interesting fact about you that no one would suspect?

I once was the personal driver for W Edwards Deming, the father of quality management.

How do you prefer to spend your spare time?

Traveling or reading; preferably both.

What’s your favourite holiday destination?

Kardamyli, in the Greek Peleponnese.

All-time favourite book?

The Discoverers, by Daniel Boorstin

All-time favourite film?

The Swimmer, with Burt Lancaster

What three items would you take with you to a desert island? (NB: you may not choose a boat, raft, satellite phone or a book on ‘Practical raft-building for Dummies’)

A book on medieval history, my swiss army knife, and a good bottle of Chablis.

About Marc van Hartog

Marc den Hartog joined Shell International in 1985 after studying Mechanical Engineering at the University of Eindhoven and Business Administration at George Washington University in Washington DC. Since then, he has worked for Shell in wide range of commercial and managerial positions in eight different countries. This has included roles across most sectors of the oil & gas industry, including in upstream oil, refining, gas-to-liquids, and LNG.

Most recently, in Jan 2014 Marc den Hartog was appointed President Upstream for Shell in Indonesia. In this role he is responsible for managing and expanding Shell’s multi-billion dollar portfolio of oil and gas production investments in the country. The largest activity at present is development of the Abadi integrated Liquefied Natural Gas project, being pursued together with Inpex of Japan. Abadi is a gas field discovered in the remote deep waters of Eastern Indonesia by Inpex in 2000 – one of the largest gas discoveries in the world in the past two decades.