Darren Woods joined Exxon in 1992. He was promoted to CEO following Rex Tillerson's nomination by President Donald Trump to be the next US Secretary of State. Hi previously worked in the downstream part of the business (refining, chemical).

Although he publicly endorsed the Paris accord and wrote to Pres. Trump to urge that the US should remain party to this accord, Woods is also bullish on oil exploration and has set an aggressive growth plan for ExxonMobil's production of oil and gas.