Shell’s Vice President of Upstream in the UK and Ireland has been appointed to the Oil & Gas UK Board.

Steve Phimister will replace Paul Goodfellow on the group’s Board of Directors with immediate effect.

The team of industry leaders is responsible for deciding Oil & Gas UK’s position on policy matters.

Mr Phimister is a chemicals and minerals engineer by trade, who has worked around the world for Shell.

Chief Executive of Oil and Gas UK, Deidre Michie, said: “We are delighted to welcome Steve Phimister to our Board. He has extensive experience of our industry and we are pleased to have another strong and knowledgeable contributor supporting our organisation.

“I would also like to take the opportunity to thank Paul Goodfellow for his commitment and contribution to Oil & Gas UK and its Board and wish him much success in his new role.”

Subsea equipment manufacturer Bel Valves’ Neil Kirkbride has served a full five years on the Board of Directors and has now stepped down.

His replacement is to be announced in due course.

Around 30 new crude oil and natural gas projects are expected to start operating in the North Sea by 2020.