Rex Tillerson leaves Exxon Mobil

Exxon Mobil President Darren Woods will succeed Rex Tillerson as chairman and chief executive of the company on Jan. 1, 2017, after Tillerson was tapped by President-elect Donald Trump to serve as the next US Secretary of State.

The board of directors congratulated Tillerson on his nomination for the position of U.S. secretary of state. "We thank Rex for his leadership, service and dedication to ExxonMobil. We know that his service to the nation as secretary of state will be equally successful and distinguished," the board said.   Tillerson has been with the oil giant for more than 41 years. He has been chairman and CEO since January 2006.