As an 18-year-old boy, Frank Westerhof (60) already knew his mind: to travel as much as possible for his job. At Shell, he got his chance and flew all over the world. This way, he made his contribution to the globalisation of Shell. It was the central trait of a brilliant career. 

"After graduating in administrative information science in 1985, I immediately started working for Shell. I was sure I wanted to apply for a job with them as I wanted to work internationally and Shell allowed me to do just that. I worked abroad for 16 years and it was a wonderful experience.

After leaving university, I went to Portugal for four and a half years. At the time, the first integrated financial management systems were being introduced and I was sent to Portugal to implement them. Ambitious, yes, of course. We worked there with a very small IT department, not hampered by any knowledge. We just had to roll up our sleeves and get to work.

After that, I worked in London, Houston and Malaysia. First on my own, later accompanied by my wife and children. They have greatly enjoyed the benefits of expat family life. Travelling around the world has gave me both a thorough understanding of Shell and a huge network.

As yet, I have not given much thought to my pension. Money-wise I am not concerned, I trust Shell's excellent conditions. However, I recently did opt for a variable pension (CVP), as it can generate more money in the long run. Of course, there is a risk that my money will be worth less. However, I do have enough savings should my pension be insufficient."