Originally published August 9 2005
Exxon names new CEO; environmentalists happy with choice
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Exxon has named a new CEO, Rex Tillerson, and environmentalists think the choice was a good one, although some are skeptical that any changes will occur in how Exxon treats the environment.
But the fact that the heir apparent has the full support of the financial community, which expects him to run the company in the same way as his predecessor, has some critics of Exxon dismissing the chances of any real change.
Exxon, the world's largest public oil company, said Thursday CEO Lee Raymond would retire at year-end.
Environmentalists revile the no-nonsense Raymond for his refusal to compromise on their issues, and for his stances minimizing the effects of global warming and the benefits of renewable energy.
"You couldn't imagine anyone worse on the issue of climate change than Lee Raymond, so there's really nowhere to go but up with his successor," said Andrew Logan, oil program manager at CERES, a coalition of institutional investors and environmentalists.
Raymond is set to be replaced by Rex Tillerson, the company's president.
Though many groups have many quibbles with Exxon, at the top of most lists is the ongoing impact of the 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster in Alaska, when an oil tanker spilled a third of its contents in Prince William Sound.
"One can only hope that he would want a part of his legacy to be a resolution of the Exxon Valdez damages," said Rick Steiner, professor in the University of Alaska's marine science advisory program and an environmentalist very active in Prince William Sound restoration issues.
"I expect them to continue their strategy in litigation.
They'll just be in first place when it comes to money and in last place when it comes to being responsive," said RJ Kopchak, a fisherman from the Prince William sound village of Cordova, who also heads a local office for Ecotrust, a West Coast environmental organization.
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