Linda Cook (businesswoman) facts for kids
Linda Zarda Cook, born on June 4, 1958, is an important American businesswoman. She is currently the CEO of Harbour Energy, a big energy company, a role she has held since 2014. Before that, she was the CEO of Shell Gas & Power, which is part of Royal Dutch Shell, in the Netherlands until 2009. In 2007, Forbes magazine recognized her as the 44th most powerful woman in the world.
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Early Life and Education
Linda Cook grew up in Shawnee, Kansas. She went to the University of Kansas. In 1980, she earned a degree in petroleum engineering. This field involves finding and producing oil and natural gas.
Career at Shell
Starting at Shell
Linda Cook began her career at Shell in 1980. She started as a reservoir engineer in the United States. A reservoir engineer helps figure out how much oil and gas is in the ground. She took on more important jobs over time. These roles involved exploring for and producing energy.
Leadership Roles
In 1998, Linda Cook moved to the Netherlands with her family. There, she led Shell International EP. From 2000 to 2003, she was the CEO of Shell's Gas & Power division. After that, she led Shell Canada for one year. She then returned to her previous role at Gas & Power.
Leaving Shell
On May 26, 2009, Shell announced that Linda Cook would be leaving the company. She had worked for Shell for 29 years. Her division, Gas and Power, was later combined with other parts of the company.
Board Memberships
The Boeing Company
Linda Cook joined the board of directors for The Boeing Company in 2003. A board of directors helps guide a company. She held four different roles on the board. One of her roles was leading the finance committee. She decided not to seek re-election in 2015. Her term on the board ended in April of that year.
Other Boards
Linda Cook has also served on the boards of other companies. These include KBR and Marathon Oil.
Leading Harbour Energy
Since July 2014, Linda Cook has been the CEO of Harbour Energy. This company has grown significantly. In March 2021, Harbour Energy merged with other companies. These included Chrysaor Holdings and Premier Oil. This merger made Harbour Energy the largest oil and gas producer in the North Sea.
