Darren Wayne Woods, born December 16, 1965, in Wichita, Kansas, is an American businessman serving as chairman and chief executive officer of ExxonMobil since January 1, 2017.[1][2][6] Raised near U.S. military bases due to his father's work as a military supplier, he earned a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Texas A&M University in 1987 and an MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management.[1][3][6] Woods joined Exxon Company International in 1992 as a planning analyst in Florham Park, New Jersey, advancing through domestic and international roles across ExxonMobil Chemical Company and ExxonMobil Refining and Supply Company.[2][4][6] Key positions included vice president of ExxonMobil Chemical Company in Houston in 2005, managing global specialty-chemical businesses; director of refining for Europe, Africa, and the Middle East in Brussels in 2008; vice president of supply and transportation in Fairfax, Virginia, in 2010; and president of ExxonMobil Refining and Supply Company in 2012.[4][5][6] In 2014, he became senior vice president of ExxonMobil, and effective January 1, 2016, he was elected president and board member, succeeding Rex Tillerson, who was nominated as U.S. Secretary of State.[1][3] A refining and chemicals expert, Woods oversaw divisions that generated most of ExxonMobil's $7.8 billion net income in 2016 before his CEO appointment.[1][3] He chairs the American Petroleum Institute and its executive committee.[4] Under his leadership, ExxonMobil invests in carbon capture and storage, including a Houston hub, while maintaining plastics production with improved waste management.[1] Woods's compensation has risen notably: over $20 million annually in 2021, $31 million in 2023 (199:1 CEO-to-median worker ratio), and $44.1 million in 2024 (231:1 ratio).[1] With over 30 years at ExxonMobil, leading 60,000 employees globally, he remains a pivotal figure in energy amid transitions to lower emissions.[6][7] (298 words)