Top 10: CEOs in Energy

The energy sector is undergoing significant change as it transitions from sole reliance on fossil fuels to sustainable alternatives, making strong leadership and strategic direction absolutely critical to guide these sweeping changes. 

Here, Business Chief highlights 10 of the world’s most influential CEOs in Energy, who are helping to evolve their businesses and remain competitive in a changing landscape. 

10. Vicki Hollub

Company: Occidental Petroleum

Revenue: US$22.08bn

Location: Texas, US

Vicki Hollub made history in 2016 as the first woman to lead a major American oil company when she became CEO of Occidental Petroleum. 

She has positioned Occidental as a leader in carbon capture and direct air capture (DAC) technology, committing the company to net-zero emissions by 2050. 

Under her leadership, the company has invested in large-scale carbon management infrastructure and enhanced oil recovery tied to CO₂ sequestration. 

9. Pedro Azaga

Company: Iberdrola

Revenue: US$48.4bn

Location: Bilbao, Spain

Iberdrola is led operationally by CEO Pedro Azagra, who took the helm after serving as CEO of its US subsidiary, Avangrid. 

Pedro has deep experience in international energy markets and infrastructure investment, positioning him to accelerate Iberdrola’s global growth strategy. 

Under his leadership, the company is continuing to expand offshore and onshore wind, solar generation, battery storage and grid modernisation across Europe and the United States. 

He is focused on disciplined capital allocation and regulated network expansion to strengthen Iberdrola’s position as one of the world’s leading renewable energy utilities.

8. Ryan Lance

Company: ConocoPhillips

Revenue: US$56.95bn

Location: Texas, US

Ryan Lance has served as Chairman and CEO of ConocoPhillips since 2012, steering the world’s largest independent exploration and production company. 

With nearly four decades in the industry, Ryan has strengthened ConocoPhillips’ low-cost resource base through disciplined acquisitions and capital allocation. 

The company has focused on operational efficiency, methane reduction and emissions intensity targets while maintaining strong production growth. 

His global experience across Asia, Africa, the Middle East and North America has shaped a resilient, returns-focused strategy.

7. Claudio Descalzi

Company: Eni

Revenue: US$95.01bn

Location: Rome, Italy

Claudio Descalzi has led Eni for more than a decade, drawing on over 40 years with the company. 

Beginning as a petroleum engineer, he advanced through global upstream leadership roles before becoming CEO. Claudio co-founded the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative in 2014, signalling early collaboration on emissions reduction. 

Under his tenure, Eni has expanded renewable generation, bio-refining capacity and carbon capture initiatives, while restructuring upstream operations to support decarbonisation and long-term sustainability goals.

6. Mark Lashier

Company: Phillips 66

Revenue: US$143.15bn

Location: Texas, US

Mark Lashier leads Phillips 66, one of the largest refiners in the Fortune 500. 

His strategy blends operational excellence in refining with a pivot toward renewable fuels and power integration. The company has advanced renewable diesel production, sustainable aviation fuel initiatives and solar projects at key facilities to reduce operational emissions. 

Mark has focused on portfolio optimisation – divesting non-core assets while reinvesting in high-return, lower-carbon infrastructure – positioning Phillips 66 to remain competitive as fuel markets evolve.

5. Patrick Pouyanné

Company: TotalEnergies

Revenue: US$195.61bn

Location: Paris, France

Patrick Pouyanné has reshaped Total into TotalEnergies, reflecting its broadened strategy beyond oil and gas. 

He has committed the company to net-zero ambitions by 2050 while maintaining a strong liquefied natural gas (LNG) portfolio to support global energy security. 

Under his leadership, TotalEnergies has expanded into solar, wind, battery storage and integrated power markets. 

Patrick’s approach balances shareholder returns from hydrocarbons with disciplined investment in renewables, creating a diversified global energy platform.

4. Mike Wirth

Company: Chevron

Revenue: US$202.8bn

Location: Texas, US

Mike Wirth has served as CEO of Chevron since 2018, guiding the company through industry volatility while strengthening its core oil and gas portfolio. 

A Chevron veteran of four decades, Mike has expanded US resource development and pursued strategic acquisitions to reinforce long-term supply. 

At the same time, he has increased investments in hydrogen, renewable fuels, carbon capture and methane reduction. His strategy focuses on affordable, reliable energy and a mix of traditional hydrocarbons and emerging lower-carbon solutions.

3. Wael Sawan

Company: Shell

Revenue: US$289bn

Location: London, UK

Wael Sawan became CEO of Shell after more than 25 years with the company, bringing deep operational experience across upstream, liquified natural gas (LNG) and integrated gas businesses. 

He has focused on improving performance, cost discipline and strategic clarity within the business, prioritising high-return projects while continuing Shell’s investments in renewables and energy solutions. 

The company has expanded LNG capacity, electric vehicle charging networks, hydrogen projects and biofuels under his tenure. Wael’s approach aims to strengthen financial resilience while maintaining progress toward lower-carbon energy systems.

2. Darren Woods

Company: ExxonMobil

Revenue: US$323.91bn

Location: Texas, US

As Chairman and CEO of ExxonMobil, Darren Woods is leading one of the world’s largest integrated energy companies through a complex energy transition. 

He has prioritised capital discipline in upstream oil and gas while significantly expanding investments in lower-carbon technologies. 

Under his leadership since 2017, ExxonMobil has scaled carbon capture and storage (CCS), hydrogen development and advanced biofuels. 

The company is also building a substantial Low Carbon Solutions business aimed at industrial decarbonisation, positioning itself to maintain hydrocarbon strength while developing commercially viable emissions-reduction technologies.

1. Amin H. Nasser

Company: Saudi Aramco

Revenue: US$480.57bn

Location: Dhahran, Saudi Arabia

Amin H. Nasser leads Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest integrated energy and chemicals company. 

With over 40 years at the company and more than ten years as CEO, he has overseen major capacity expansions, digital transformation initiatives and downstream diversification. 

Saudi Aramco has committed to achieving net-zero emissions from wholly owned operations by 2050 and has begun investing in hydrogen, renewables and advanced materials. 

Amin’s leadership balances large-scale hydrocarbon production with strategic investments to ensure long-term competitiveness in a changing global energy landscape.