By Ron Bousso

LONDON (Reuters) -Royal Dutch Shell has appointed Wael Sawan to head its integrated gas and renewables division, replacing Maarten Wetselaar who will leave the energy company after 25 years.

Sawan currently heads up Shell’s oil and gas production division, or upstream. In his new role, he will oversee Shell’s continued expansion into low-carbon and renewable energy and electricity markets, key pillars of Shell’s strategy to reduce emissions to net zero. by 2050.

Sawan, 47, a Canadian citizen of Lebanese descent, is seen by many as the potential successor to Managing Director Ben van Beurden alongside Huibert Vigeveno, who heads Shell’s refining and chemicals division.

Sawan will be replaced by Zoë Yujnovich, 46, who currently heads conventional oil and gas operations, Shell said in a statement.

Both appointments take effect on October 25.

Wetselaar, once considered a top candidate for the company, will become the chief executive of Spanish oil company Cepsa from January 1, 2022, Shell said.

Wetselaar has overseen Shell’s growth in liquefied natural gas (LNG) and low carbon in recent years, including investments in offshore wind, hydrogen and electric vehicle charging.

“I am also extremely grateful to Maarten for his exceptional contribution to Shell and our customers, for his vision and dedication to shaping a world-class LNG portfolio, and for laying the foundation for our energy and renewable solutions business.” , said CEO van Beurden. in a report.

Cepsa Chairman Ahmad Yahia Al Idrissi said in a statement that Wetselaar’s appointment would help Cepsa accelerate its energy transition strategy.

Cepsa, owned by Mubadala and Carlyle, began making inroads into renewable energy, including signing a joint venture with Masdar to develop wind and solar projects in Spain and Portugal, and built a 28-year-old wind farm, 8 megawatts in southern Spain.

(Reporting by Ron Bousso and Isla Binnie; editing by Jason Neely and Susan Fenton)