Rockefellers demand ExxonMobile goes green
Members of the Rockefeller family have hit out at oil giant ExxonMobile, expressing concern over the direction of the company. The Rockefellers, who are long-term continuous Exxon shareholders, have previously been content to sit on the sidelines.
However the family - descended from John D Rockefeller, the founder of Standard Oil - has now broken its silence. Family members are demanding Exxon increase its use of alternative fuels by investing more in cleaner technology and cutting greenhouse emissions at its plants.
At a press conference yesterday Neva Rockefeller Goodwin, John's great granddaughter, said the organisation was lacking the founder's "entrepreneurial vision", focusing on short-term profits and ignoring "the rapidly shifting energy landscape around the world".
The press conference was called after the family announced its concern over Rex Tillerson's role as both chairman and CEO of the company. The Rockefellers feel his role should be split between two people (click here to read the full story).
"Having an independent chairman leading an independent-thinking board of very experienced directors will substantially improve Exxon's ability to look the future squarely in the face and will increase its flexibility," said Peter O'Neill (pictured with Goodwin), John's great, great grandson and head of the family committee.