New Orleans native named president of Shell’s U.S. business | Business News

Colette Hirstius, a New Orleans native who currently oversees Shell’s operations in the Gulf of Mexico, will take over as president of the European oil giant’s U.S. business, the company said this week. 

In her new role, Hirstius, who grew up in Gentilly and graduated from St. Mary’s Dominican High School and Tulane University, will oversee more than 13,000 employees and a sprawling portfolio of energy companies at a time of global economic uncertainty fueled by President Donald Trump’s tariffs. 

Though Shell’s North American headquarters is in Houston, Hirstius will remain in New Orleans, making her the first president of Shell USA based here, according to Cynthia Babski, a company spokesperson.

In addition to serving as Shell president, she will continue in her current role as executive vice president of Shell’s operations in the Gulf of Mexico, which Trump renamed the Gulf of America. 

Though much of New Orleans’ energy industry has left for Houston over the years, Shell has kept a sizeable presence in the city.  

The company employs around 3,000 people in Louisiana, and in 2023, announced plans to move around 800 of its New Orleans workers into a custom-designed office building in the planned River District neighborhood upriver of the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.

The firm expects to relocate there in 2027, Babski said. 

Hirstius’ two-decade career at Shell has taken her from New Orleans to West Africa to the company’s headquarters in The Hague, Netherlands, before bringing her back home as the local boss. 

Hirstius has deep roots in Louisiana. Her father, Broderick Bagert, was a lawyer and New Orleans City Council member in the 1970s and served on the Louisiana Public Service Commission in the 1980s.

“In the years to come, Colette’s leadership will support our priority to deliver competitive, secure energy in the US while serving our US customers,” Shell CEO Wael Sawan said in a statement.

Hirstius wasn’t available for an interview Wednesday. 

Gov. Jeff Landry praised Hirstius’ appointment on social media. 

“Hirstius is a proud Louisianan and we are excited to work with her in her new role!” Landry said.