API chooses Occidental’s Chazen as new chairman

The board of the American Petroleum Institute has elected Stephen I. Chazen, Occidental Petroleum Corp. president and chief executive officer, as its chairman for a 1-year term, effective Jan. 1, 2014. Chazen succeeds Clarence P. Cazalot, Jr., Marathon Oil Corp. chairman, president, and chief executive officer, who is retiring (OGJ Online, Nov. 15, 2012).

Chazen has more than 40 years of experience in the oil and natural gas industry. He joined Oxy in 1994 as executive vice-president, corporate development, and eventually elevated to the position of president and chief operating officer in 2010, a year in which he was also elected to the company’s board. In 2011, he became president and chief executive officer. Before joining Oxy, Chazen was a managing director in the investment banking group of Merrill Lynch & Co.

Chazen also serves on the boards of directors for Ecolab Incorporated, the Aquarium of the Pacific, and the Catalina Island Conservancy.