Linda Z. Cook is an American energy executive and the Chief Executive Officer of Harbour Energy plc, one of the world's largest independent oil and gas companies. She has more than four decades of experience across exploration, production, engineering, operations, corporate leadership and energy investment. She became CEO of Harbour Energy on 31 March 2021, following a distinguished career at Royal Dutch Shell and senior leadership positions in private equity. 

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Early Life and Education 

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Cook was born in Shawnee, Kansas, United States, and grew up there. She attended St. Joseph's schools before studying Petroleum Engineering at the University of Kansas, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree. She subsequently built her career around the technical and commercial aspects of the international oil and gas industry. Public corporate biographies identify her as a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers. 

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Career at Shell 

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Cook joined Royal Dutch Shell in 1980 and spent approximately 29 years with the company. Her career progressed through engineering, exploration and production and senior management positions. She eventually became CEO of Shell Gas & Power, based in London, and later served as CEO of Shell Canada Limited. She also became a member of Shell's Board of Directors and Executive Committee. Her Shell career established her as one of the prominent female executives in the global energy industry. 

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Harbour Energy and Major Achievements 

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Before becoming Harbour Energy's CEO, Cook was Chairman of Chrysaor Holdings and a member of the Investment and Executive Committees of EIG Global Energy Partners. She was involved in developing Harbour's acquisition-led strategy and subsequently led the company following the combination of Chrysaor and Premier Oil. 

One of her most significant achievements was overseeing Harbour's 2024 acquisition of Wintershall Dea's upstream portfolio, which transformed Harbour from a predominantly UK-focused producer into a much larger and geographically diversified international energy company. Under her leadership, Harbour subsequently delivered record production of 474,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2025. In 2026, production exceeded 500,000 boe/d during the first half of the year. 

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Awards and Recognition 

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Cook has received significant recognition during her career. Forbes ranked her among the world's most powerful women, placing her 44th in its 2007 ranking. She has also been recognised within the energy industry for her leadership and extensive corporate experience. 

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Family and Personal Life 

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Cook maintains a relatively private personal life. While her professional biographies document her career extensively, reliable public sources provide limited information about her spouse, children and wider family, so specific claims about her family should be treated cautiously. 

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Net Worth 

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There is no authoritative public figure for Linda Z. Cook's total personal net worth. However, her substantial Harbour Energy shareholding is publicly disclosed. A 2026 analysis based on the company's 2025 annual report valued her Harbour Energy shareholding at approximately £26.2 million at the end of March 2026. This represents the value of her disclosed Harbour shares, not her total personal wealth or net worth. 

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Today, Cook remains focused on expanding Harbour Energy's global portfolio, improving operational performance, strengthening its balance sheet and generating long-term shareholder value while maintaining a major role in the international oil and gas industry. 

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