Johan Atema has been appointed as new director of NAM with effect from 1 September 2018. He succeeds Gerald Schotman, who will fulfill the role of Vice President Joint Ventures Delivery & Excellence at Shell. This role further expands the position that has become vacant due to the departure of Dick Benschop to Schiphol.

Johan Atema has been working at Shell since 1997. He held various technical management positions, both in the past at NAM and for Shell in Malaysia, among others. Since 2014 he has been working as Vice President Manage Producing Assets at Shell International in The Hague.

Johan Atema: "I was born and raised in the North and have lived in Groningen for quite some time. I am therefore well aware of the impact that gas extraction in Groningen entails and I understand the decisions that have been taken in this regard. I am therefore looking forward to working with my NAM colleagues in the coming years to ensure a safe and reliable energy supply, while at the same time working on the reduction of production in Groningen and a seamless transition to a sustainable future."

Looking back

Gerald Schotman was appointed as director of NAM on 1 October 2014. His start-up period was characterized by a large number of earthquakes, in the number of claims for damages and by immense social unrest caused by the earthquakes. Already when he took office he assumed that NAM had to be distanced from the handling of damage. "Shoemaker, stay with you" was a statement that he frequently used. He acknowledged the care expressed in the RVV report from early 2015 and embraced the recommendations. Schotman: "The impact of the earthquakes on Groningen and Groningen is enormous. Yes, many steps have been taken in recent years, but safety is not a calculation, it is a feeling. "

Schotman continues: "Recently, the remote placement of NAM has been found in the decisions of Minister Wiebes and in the agreements with the Groningen region. With this NAM enters a new phase. For me it is therefore a natural moment to transfer the baton."