Michael K. Wirth has been elected chairman and chief executive officer of Chevron Corp., effective Feb. 1. He will succeed John S. Watson, who will retire from the company and its board after 37 years of service, including 8 years as chairman and CEO (OGJ Online, Aug. 22, 2017).
Prior to his downstream involvement, he was Chevron’s president of global supply and trading and president of marketing for the company's Asia-Middle East-Africa business based in Singapore. Wirth joined Chevron in 1982 as a design engineer.
In 2000, Watson led the company’s integration effort following Chevron’s merger with Texaco Inc. and then became the combined company’s chief financial officer. In 2005, he became president of Chevron International Exploration & Production. In April 2009, he was named vice-chairman of the company before being elected chairman and CEO in September of that year.
In a related move, Watson said Mark A. Nelson will become vice-president of midstream, strategy, and policy, also effective Feb. 1. In his new role, Nelson will be responsible for the company's supply and trading, shipping, pipeline, and power operating units. Nelson also will oversee corporate strategy, as well as policy, government, and public affairs.
Prior to his current position, Nelson served as Chevron’s president of international products, responsible for the refining and marketing businesses in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Before that, he was president of Chevron Canada.