Devon Energy’s board of directors has appointed John Bethancourt as independent chair of the board, effective July 1, the company said June 5.

Bethancourt succeeds Barbara Baumann. Baumann will remain on the board and will join the compensation committee and governance, environmental and public policy committee.

Bethancourt joined Devon Energy’s board in 2014 following his retirement from Chevron’s executive team. Currently, he chairs the board’s reserves committee and serves on the compensation committee.

At Chevron, he oversaw environmental, health and safety efforts, major project management, procurement and mining operations. He began his career at Getty Oil Co. in 1974 and joined Texaco Inc. when the companies merged in 1984.

"John's appointment continues the company's governance tradition of separating the chair and CEO roles," said Rick Muncrief, Devon’s president and CEO. "Over the past decade, John's leadership, vast industry expertise and strategic insight have played a pivotal role in shaping Devon into the company we are today.”