Shell To Cut 3,000 IT Jobs

Oil major Royal Dutch Shell is set to outsource around 3,000 IT jobs while cutting and restructuring its Nigerian ventures, according to an industry analyst.

The news follows mass speculation in the US media of a widespread shake-up in the organisation.

In a statement, Shell only confirmed that it has been working to simplify the organisation since 2005 with its IT Infrastructure Sourcing Programme (ISP).

"We are in the middle of commercial discussions and expect contracts to be signed in 2008, at which point we will share more details," a spokeswoman told Offshore-Technology.

A large part of Shell's IT infrastructure will go to three suppliers, according to a source at UK financial company Brewin Dolphin who believes IT restructuring is part of a cost cutting exercise.

"Shell will outsource around 3,000 IT jobs, cut some finance positions, reshape expatriate packages and restructure Nigerian ventures," says the analyst.

By staff writer