Head of top US oil, gas lobbying group to retire
WASHINGTON, June 5 (Reuters) - The head of the U.S. oil and gas industry's main lobbying group, the American Petroleum Institute, on Thursday said he will retire later this year.
Red Cavaney, who has served as president and chief executive officer of the group since 1997, will step down in November. Jack Gerard, currently president of the American Chemistry Council, will take over, the API said.
Cavaney, 65, has represented oil companies like Exxon Mobil Corp (XOM.N) and Chevron Corp (CVX.N) through turbulent times -- including the hurricanes that shut down oil production in the Gulf of Mexico in 2005 and soaring oil company profits that have drawn the ire of U.S. lawmakers.
The head of Exxon Mobil, the biggest U.S. oil company, applauded Cavaney.
"Red is one of the true pillars of Washington and has served with distinction as the leader for the oil and natural gas industry," said Rex Tillerson, Exxon Mobil's chairman and chairman of the API's board.
The API, which has nearly 400 corporate members, last year launched a multiyear, multimillion-dollar public relations push aimed at bolstering the industry's sagging image.
Big Oil's image has been under pressure since late 2005, as record profits made banner headlines just as consumers were smarting from record-high gasoline prices spurred by Hurricane Katrina.
Gasoline prices have since marched ever-higher to a new record nationwide average near $4 a gallon.
Cavaney has had a long Washington career and served three U.S. presidents -- Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan, all Republicans.
Cavaney has also held leadership roles at the American Plastics Council and the American Forest and Paper Association. (Reporting by Chris Baltimore, editing by Matthew Lewis)
