(WO) — ConocoPhillips has announced a planned leadership transition, naming Andy O’Brien president and chief executive officer effective Sept. 1, while longtime CEO Ryan Lance will retire from the role and become executive chair in a transitional capacity.
Andy O’Brien
The company also named Konnie Haynes-Welsh senior vice president and chief financial officer, succeeding O’Brien as CFO.
The appointments mark the end of Lance’s 14-year tenure as president and CEO, during which he transformed ConocoPhillips into one of the world’s leading independent upstream companies through a series of major acquisitions, portfolio optimization and a focus on shareholder returns.
“On behalf of the board, I want to thank Ryan for 14 years of exceptional leadership and more than 40 years of dedicated service to the company,” said Lead Independent Director Robert Niblock. “He set the course for the newly formed independent ConocoPhillips in 2012, and during his tenure, the company became a recognized leader within the sector as a global upstream company.”
O’Brien, who currently serves as executive vice president, Strategy and Commercial, and chief financial officer, joined Conoco in 1997. Since joining the executive leadership team in 2022, he has overseen the company’s Alaska and international businesses, commercial operations, LNG, finance, corporate strategy, investor relations and mergers and acquisitions.
“I’m honored to lead ConocoPhillips and grateful to Ryan for the strong foundation he has built,” O’Brien said. “My focus will be to build on that momentum, continue raising the bar and unlock even greater value across our company.”
Lance said ConocoPhillips enters its next chapter with “an exceptional portfolio and a world-class team,” expressing confidence that O’Brien will continue executing the company’s disciplined strategy while delivering long-term value for shareholders.
Haynes-Welsh joined ConocoPhillips in 2012 and has held leadership positions across finance, corporate strategy, treasury and the Lower 48 organization. She currently serves as vice president, Finance and Controller.
All appointments take effect Sept. 1.
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