Occidental Petroleum lands in Midland the week of CEO Vicki Hollub's retirement

Occidental Petroleum flew its Embraer ERJ-175 (tail N170XY) from Houston's Bush Intercontinental Airport to Midland International Air and Space Port on May 14, a 65-minute hop across Texas. The shuttle, typically used to move employees between headquarters and field operations, touched down at 13:00 UTC.

The same week, the company is navigating a leadership transition. Vicki Hollub, Occidental Petroleum's president and CEO since 2016, announced on May 1 that she will retire effective June 1, per a company press release. Chief Operating Officer Richard Jackson will succeed her. Hollub, the first woman to lead a major U.S. oil firm, oversaw the $38 billion Anadarko acquisition and built a close relationship with Berkshire Hathaway's Warren Buffett. The Midland area is the heart of Occidental Petroleum's Permian Basin operations, where the company holds a dominant position following the CrownRock acquisition in 2024.

The flight follows a pattern of frequent shuttles between Houston and Midland. Over the past two days, the same aircraft made multiple trips to and from the region, consistent with routine crew rotations and operational visits as the company prepares for the June 1 handover.