His vision and leadership helped guide Chevron through momentous times to create a high-performing company with outstanding people and legacy assets that distinguish their business to this day.
In 1960, he arrived at Standard Oil of California, equipped with an engineering degree and MBA from Cornell University, and proceeded to make an outsized impact in every position he held.
He increased Chevron’s presence in Africa; reentered Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela; and moved into new areas of Argentina, Azerbaijan, China and Thailand.
Derr's commitment to deliver competitive performance was made clear by a sign he kept on his desk: “Better than the Best.” It was his call to action, inspiring the workforce to make Chevron the most profitable oil major in the United States with the best shareholder returns.
Building on the principles initially established in 1923 with The Standard Oil Spirit, Derr was deeply involved in efforts to put people first.