Chevron Corporation has announced a significant leadership change with the appointment of Laura Lane as its new Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, effective February 1, 2025. Lane, who will be based in Houston, will oversee the company's government affairs, communications, and social investment activities. She steps into the role previously held by Al Williams, who is set to retire in April after a distinguished 34-year career at Chevron.

Lane brings a wealth of experience to Chevron, having most recently served as the EVP & chief corporate affairs and sustainability officer at UPS. Her career also includes senior positions at Citigroup and Time Warner, as well as significant government roles, including a stint at the office of the US Trade Representative and as a Foreign Service Officer with the US Department of State. Lane's educational background includes a master's degree from Georgetown University and a bachelor's degree from Loyola University Chicago.

Chevron's CEO, Michael Wirth, praised Lane's appointment, citing her extensive background in both the private and public sectors, her leadership in complex global organizations, and her experience in diverse geographic locations as key attributes that make her well-suited to lead Chevron's global corporate affairs activities. Wirth also expressed gratitude towards Al Williams for his contributions to Chevron's success over his career, noting Williams' accomplished leadership across various sectors of the company.

This leadership transition comes at a pivotal time for Chevron, as the company is currently navigating a $53 billion agreement to acquire oil producer Hess. The deal has faced challenges due to a contract arbitration dispute involving Exxon Mobil and CNOOC, Hess' partners in a Guyana oil production joint venture. Amidst these developments, Chevron has been actively refreshing its leadership team, with recent changes in the heads of finance, human resources, and oil products and gas.

Chevron's strategic move to appoint Lane is seen as a positive step, reflecting the company's commitment to strengthening its corporate affairs and sustainability efforts. This appointment is part of a broader effort to ensure smooth leadership transitions and to bring in experienced executives to guide the company through its current and future challenges.