ConocoPhillips chief Ryan Lance to step down after 14 years

Ryan Lance, who has steered ConocoPhillips through the oil industry's most turbulent decade, is stepping down as chief executive after 14 years at a moment when energy companies are enjoying their most profitable stretch in years—raising questions about whether he is leaving at a peak or abandoning ship before the energy transition accelerates. The departure, announced after the close of trading Tuesday, marks a significant leadership change at one of America's largest oil producers just as the company faces mounting pressure to prove it can thrive in a world moving away from fossil fuels. Lance's exit opens a crucial succession battle within the energy sector over who will lead Big Oil through its next chapter.

Financial Times·Aug 6