Darren Woods
| Personal details | |
| Born | Darren Wayne Woods 1965/12/16 (age 59) đşđ¸ Wichita, Kansas, U.S. |
| Nationality | đşđ¸ American |
| Education | BS Electrical Engineering, MBA |
| Spouse | Kathryn Woods (m. college years) |
| Children | 3 |
| Career details | |
| Occupation | ExxonMobil Chairman & CEO |
| Compensation | $44.1 million (2024) |
| Net worth | Undisclosed |
Darren Wayne Woods (born December 16, 1965) is an American businessman serving as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Exxon Mobil Corporation, the world's largest publicly traded international oil and gas company with $350B+ annual revenue, since January 2017. Born in Wichita, Kansas to military supplier father, Woods spent childhood bouncing between U.S. military bases across South Korea, Philippines, Hawaii, and Texas before paying his own way through Texas A&M electrical engineering degree (1987) while juggling two jobs. His 2024 compensation reached $44.1 million (up 19.3%), with 231-to-1 pay ratio versus median worker.
Met wife Kathryn at Texas A&M where she studied accountingâshe came from "entire family of Aggies" and Woods chose Texas A&M partly because "being so in love with this woman, her destined decision to attend pretty much confirmed where he was going too." Married with three children living in Texas, maintaining strict privacy about wedding and personal life. Joined Exxon 1992 after Northwestern MBA, worked 24 years across refining, chemicals, and upstream operations before succeeding Rex Tillerson (who left for Trump's Secretary of State) as CEO at age 51.
Woods became lightning rod for climate controversy, labeled one of U.S.'s top "climate villains" by The Guardian (2022) and confronted by activists as "climate criminal." October 2021 congressional testimony accused him of deceiving public about fossil fuels while internal 1970s Exxon scientists recognized global warming risksâCongresswoman Carolyn Maloney charged Woods created "conflict" between public statements and internal studies. His comments blaming governments and public for climate inaction despite Exxon's "well-established campaign to undermine climate science over several decades" drew accusations of "gaslighting." ExxonMobil now faces climate lawsuits from 26 states and municipalities (more than any Big Oil company) seeking accountability for deceiving public about product harms.
Early Life and Education
Born December 16, 1965, Wichita, Kansas. Father worked as military supplier for Army and Air Force exchange service (headquartered Dallas), supplying retail services on U.S. military bases. Moved Texas shortly after birth, then South Korea (fondest childhood memories), Philippines (several formative years). Bounced between San Antonio and Dallas through elementary school. Moved Hawaii for four years. Global military base childhood shaped worldview.
Attended Texas A&M University, earned BS electrical engineering 1987. Juggled two jobs during college, paid own way through. Met future wife Kathryn at Texas A&Mâshe came from "entire family of Aggies," her collegiate fate "virtually sealed from birth." Woods chose Texas A&M partly because "being so in love with this woman, her destined decision to attend pretty much confirmed where he was going too." Earned MBA from Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management.
Career
Early Exxon Career (1992-2016)
Joined Exxon 1992 after MBA. Worked 24 years across refining, chemicals, upstream operations. Held various positions globally including leadership roles in multiple business segments.
CEO Appointment (2017)
January 2017: Appointed Chairman and CEO following Rex Tillerson's nomination by President Donald Trump as U.S. Secretary of State. Age 51 at appointment. Succeeded one of most politically connected oil executives in modern history.
CEO Tenure (2017-Present)
Led ExxonMobil through volatile oil market, pandemic demand collapse, energy transition pressures. October 2021: Testified at historic congressional hearing on oil industry's role in climate crisis. Faced 26 state/municipal climate lawsuits (more than any Big Oil company). 2022: Named one of U.S.'s top "climate villains" by The Guardian. Confronted by activists as "climate criminal" at New York gala. Took activist shareholder groups to court over Scope 3 emissions proposals.
Personal Life
Married Kathryn Woods, met at Texas A&M. Kathryn born into "entire family of Aggies," graduated Texas A&M 1987 accounting student. Woods chose Texas A&M largely because Kathryn's "destined decision" to attend confirmed his choice. Three children together. Family lives Texas. Maintains strict privacy about wedding and personal life. Kathryn lives low-profile life, profession not publicly disclosed. Couple keeps family life separate from Woods' prominent public role.
Compensation
$44.1 million (2024, up 19.3%): $1.96M base salary, $4.5M bonus, $26.8M stock-based awards. Pay ratio 231-to-1 versus median worker. $36.9M (2023, up 2.8%). Performance-based equity comprises 70%+ of total compensation. Exxon requires executives hold stock awards 10 years. Realized pay (cash salary, bonus, vested stock market value): $15.6M (2023).
Controversies
Congressional Climate Testimony (2021)
October 2021: Testified at historic congressional hearing where accused of deceiving public about fossil fuels and climate change influence. Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney charged Woods created "conflict" between ExxonMobil's public statements and internal scientific studiesâ1970s Exxon scientists recognized global warming risks from fossil fuel use while firm publicly issued climate science skepticism. Described as one of most critical inquiry moments into oil industry's role aggravating climate crisis.
Blaming the Public for Climate Inaction
Told Fortune editors world "waited too long" to invest in technologies slowing planetary heating, blamed governments and public for acting too slowlyâdespite Exxon's "well-established campaign to undermine climate science over several decades." Experts and advocates accused Woods of "gaslighting" public while Exxon lobbies against meaningful climate policy, doubles down on oil/gas production, hauls multi-billion dollar profits. Hill reported "Exxon CEO blames public for failure to fix climate change."
Climate Liability Lawsuits
ExxonMobil faces climate lawsuits from 26 states and municipalitiesâmore than any other Big Oil company. Around 30 lawsuits filed by cities, states, Indigenous tribes seek to hold Exxon and other fossil fuel companies accountable for deceiving public about product harms. Lawsuits cite decades of internal research contradicting public messaging.
"Climate Villain" Designation
2022: The Guardian named Woods one of U.S.'s top "climate villains" following allegations of delaying climate legislation. Climate activists confronted Woods at Chemical Marketing & Economics gala in New York City, calling him "climate criminal," questioning how scientists could honor someone "who increases production of oil and gas every year."
Activist Shareholder Battles
Took activist shareholder groups to court over proposals seeking shut down company's Scope 3 emissions reduction plans. Resisted shareholder pressure for aggressive emissions targets. Defended traditional oil/gas production expansion strategy against climate-focused investors.