SHEL Shell Plc

By Justin Scheck

LONDON--The chief executive of Royal Dutch Shell PLC (RDSA) Ben van Beurden said Tuesday he was "extremely sad" at the death of his Total counterpart Christophe de Margerie.

Mr. de Margerie, along with three crew members, was killed late Monday in Moscow when the Falcon 50 business jet he was travelling in collided with a snow-removal truck on the runway.

"Christophe was a larger-than-life character, a leader respected across the energy industry and a friend," Mr. van Beurden said. "My thoughts are with his wife and family, and his many thousands of colleagues at Total."

Write to Justin Scheck at Justin.Scheck@wsj.com

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