‘We cannot deny that our returns are too low,’ Royal Dutch Shell Chief Executive Ben van Beurden said, here pictured in May. European Pressphoto Agency NEW YORK— Royal Dutch Shell PLC’s new chief executive has an unusual message for the boss of an oil major: He’s prepared to see the company shrink, if that boosts returns. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal here, Ben van Beurden said he won’t set production-growth targets for the Anglo-Dutch company and would consider reducing Shell’s exposure to oil-products. He said he is focused instead on ensuring Shell keeps generating enough cash to keep its dividend growing. “We cannot deny that our returns are too low,” Mr. van Beurden said. “We don’t have a [production] volume or capital-employed target. What I want to show is that we can grow free cash flow.” Since taking the helm at Shell in January, Mr. van […]