Equinor and Shell Announce CEO and Chair for Adura

Equinor and Shell announce the appointment of Neil McCulloch as Chief Executive Officer and Nicoletta Giadrossi as Chair of their offshore UK Incorporated Joint Venture, Adura.
These appointments mark a key step in establishing Adura as the UK North Sea’s largest independent producer, underscoring the company’s focus on operational excellence, strong governance, and a clear vision for the future of UK oil and gas.

Neil McCulloch brings more than 30 years of leadership experience in the energy sector, with a strong track record in improving operational and safety performance. He is currently the CEO of Spirit Energy, and has championed the role of oil and gas in supporting the UK’s energy transition.
“I’m honoured to lead Adura at this pivotal moment,” said McCulloch. “Adura has a clear purpose — to deliver secure energy for the UK. I look forward to working with our talented team to build a business that is operationally excellent, future-focused, and grounded in strong values.”

Nicoletta Giadrossi is an experienced Chair and Non-Executive Director in listed and private companies in Energy and Infrastructure. She has led four boards and is currently chairing MSX International, a global company providing technical services to the mobility sector. Nicoletta is also a board member in Vopak NV, the global storage infrastructure company, and in Renew Global plc, the leading renewables producer in India.
“Adura represents a unique opportunity to shape the future of UK energy,” said Giadrossi. “I’m excited to work with Neil and the Board to ensure Adura delivers long-term value for all stakeholders — with safety, sustainability, and performance at its core.”
The creation of Adura was announced in December 2024, following the decision by Equinor and Shell to combine their UK offshore oil and gas assets into a new incorporated joint venture. Adura will sustain domestic oil and gas production and security of energy supply in the UK and beyond, headquartered at the Silver Fin building in Aberdeen city centre.
Work continues towards securing regulatory approvals, with launch of Adura anticipated by the end of 2025.
Contact details
- Media: Alice Baxter, Media Relations, +44 7557973941
Latest news
Production started from Bacalhau, Equinor’s largest international field
On 15 October, at 22.56 Rio time, Equinor and its partners ExxonMobil Brasil, Petrogal Brasil (JV Galp|Sinopec) and Pré-sal Petróleo SA (PPSA) achieved start-up of production from the large Bacalhau field in Brazil. With recoverable reserves exceeding 1 billion barrels of oil equivalent (boe), Bacalhau is the largest international offshore field ever developed by Equinor.
Invitation to send estimates for third quarter financial results
Equinor invites analysts with coverage of the company to provide estimates for the third quarter adjusted results.
Investigation of the Melkøya fall accident
Equinor's internal investigation of the fall accident at Hammerfest LNG is finalized. A number of measures have been initiated to capture lessons learned from the serious incident.