After a long career I am finally gone. I've seen a lot of brown nosing and crooked incompetents promoted to high positions in the company, worked with world class great people, and have spent time with our current leadership team over many years. I'm saddened at what has happened to the company. Here's some thoughts about our "leaders".…. but first let me say that calling yourself a leader doesn't make you one. I will be careful with names here but you know...
Top guy: great guy to have drinks with, appears inspirational, great communicator. Not wise, too slow to act, focused on production rather than value. Too quick to go crazy increasing costs when times were good and timid and indecisive about needed actions when prices fell. He wants to be liked so does not hold those under him accountable for bad decisions which demoralizes the entire work force. Should be held responsible for costs and dividend fiascos.
Finance guy: how did he get this job? Damning indictment on entire finance department and top guy they did not have a functional leader ready and trained. This guy is the biggest narcissist in the company, ask him a question and he will tell you about his surfing and selfish lazy self centered childhood for hours. Cares about himself and money only. Ask any person who worked for him and they will tell you they despise him. In over his head in current job which is really dangerous for the company with current prices.
Exploration/commercial guy: brilliant RE. Another great guy to have drinks with. Great resume. But was
targeted as a star early and became Arrogant extreme. Micro-detailed and therefore massively misses the big picture. Believes he can solve anything with uncertainty and scenarios, but misses that garbage in equals garbage out. Completely and arrogantly bought into the lies of exploration because he could not err.
Production/Operations: was actually the first choice for top job, but Board decided otherwise. Talk with the people at XOM and their universal response is surprise that he has attained such a high position. As such, and because he does not have long tenure with the company, he is insecure and spends more time being a good old boy and telling folks how much he knows rather than making needed decisions.