ExxonMobil CEO Darren Woods joined the firm in 1992 and spent 24 years working through its operational ranks before assuming his current leadership role in January 2017. A specialist in the company’s refining and chemical divisions, he rose to the top position following the departure of his predecessor, Rex Tillerson, to the U.S. Department of State.
Professional Background
Born in 1965 in Wichita, Kansas, Darren Wayne Woods moved frequently during his youth due to his father’s work as a military supplier. He pursued technical and business education, earning a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Texas A&M University and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
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Prior to his promotion to CEO and chairman in 2017, Woods directed ExxonMobil's chemical and refining operations. These sectors generated the majority of the firm’s $7.8 billion net income in 2016. In his initial investor meetings, he outlined expansion strategies centered on drilling in the Permian Basin of Texas and New Mexico, as well as the Bakken shale formation in North Dakota. He also maintained an interest in international assets, specifically the Sakhalin project located on the eastern coast of Russia.
Climate Policy and Technology
Woods has publicly endorsed the Paris Agreement, arguing that remaining in the accord provides the United States with a platform to ensure competitive fairness. He has advocated for the development of carbon capture and storage technology and direct air capture, though he has noted that current removal costs of $600 to $1,000 per ton remain commercially prohibitive. While he maintains these positions, the company has faced scrutiny regarding carbon emissions projections and its lobbying activities. In 2021, he testified before a Congressional committee, where he denied that the firm had suppressed its historical research on climate change.
Compensation and Public Scrutiny
As the leader of a major energy firm, Woods has been the subject of both significant financial scrutiny and public protest. His total compensation reached $31 million in 2023, and climbed to $44.1 million in 2024, resulting in a CEO-to-median worker pay ratio of 231-to-1. In December 2023, his attendance at a chemical industry gala in New York City was disrupted by activists protesting his role in the promotion of fossil fuel consumption. He remains a member of The Business Council.
Fast facts
- Born: 1965, Wichita, Kansas
- Education: Texas A&M University, Kellogg School of Management
- Joined ExxonMobil: 1992
- CEO and Chairperson: Since 2017
- 2024 Total Compensation: $44.1 million
Questions readers ask
What is Darren Woods' educational background?
He earned a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Texas A&M University and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management.
What has been Woods' position on the Paris Agreement?
He has publicly endorsed the agreement, stating that the U.S. should remain a party to the accord to ensure a level playing field.
Achievements
- Affiliated with ExxonMobil
- Educated at Texas A&M University and Kellogg School of Management