AP Photo Tillerson retires as Exxon CEO as he prepares to head State Dept.

President-elect Donald Trump’s secretary of state nominee has retired from his post from ExxonMobil, effective at the end of the year.

Rex Tillerson — whom Trump tapped Tuesday to head the State Department, concluding a public, weeks-long, reality TV-style search — announced his intent to retire Wednesday.


Tillerson’s imminent retirement as chairman and CEO of ExxonMobil culminates the end of a 41-year career there that began as a production engineer in 1975. But it also comes as he begins his transition to undergo Senate hearings before the upper chamber of Congress votes on whether to confirm him as the next secretary of state.

“We thank Rex for his leadership, service and dedication to ExxonMobil,” Exxon Mobil Corporation’s board of directors said in a statement. “He led the company with integrity and honor, ensuring that safety and environmental protection were at the forefront of everything we do, generating value for shareholders and highlighting the impressive accomplishments of the company’s diverse workforce throughout the world. We know that his service to the nation as secretary of state will be equally successful and distinguished.”

Tillerson’s retirement from Exxon comes a few months early, as he would have had to do so next March after he turned 65, the company’s mandatory retirement age for his position.

Darren Woods, 51, who was elected president and a board member of ExxonMobil in January, will take over as chairman and chief executive. The Kansan came to Exxon Company International in 1992 but has held a number of senior domestic and international positions.

“Effective and disciplined succession planning is critical to the corporation’s ongoing success and a key component of its competitive advantage,” Exxon's board said. “This change in leadership is consistent with the board of directors' succession plan developed years in advance and demonstrates the strength of the management development system. With the retirement of Tillerson, the ExxonMobil board now is comprised of 12 directors, 11 of whom are non-employees.”