WASHINGTON DC: Shell Oil has tapped Susan Borches, former director of public affairs for the US Department of Commerce, to head up its communications department.
Borches, who steps into the newly-created role of vice president corporate affairs, will oversee all US external communications, including public relations, advertising, community outreach and investor relations.
Borches said, 'I've joined an industry in turmoil, but I'm really excited about creating this unit.' Borches also will serve as part of an executive leadership team, a group of senior executives who report directly to Chief Executive Officer Jack Little.
For the past six years, she was director of communications for ABB C-E Nuclear, a European electrical engineering company which has its US headquarters in Norwalk, Connecticut.
Prior to joining the ABB, Borches held a number of public affairs positions in Washington. In addition to her highly-visible position with the Commerce Department, she served as chief of staff to the Chairman of the US Consumer Product Safety Commission. Borches also was a founding partner of Soloway Associates, a public affairs agency.
Her Washington career also included positions with Smith and Harroff, a Virginia public affairs firm and the Republican National Committee.
Borches served as issues director for Republican Sen. John Warner's first campaign in 1978.
