Chevron said Aug. 2 that it will move its headquarters and top leadership from its longtime home in California to Texas’ unofficial energy capital of the world, Houston.

Joining the headquarters in making the move are Chevron Chairman and CEO Mike Wirth and Vice Chairman Mark Nelson, who will co-locate with much of Chevron’s other top leadership that is already based out of Chevron’s large Houston hub.

The moves will be completed by the end of the year, Chevron said.

The decision to change the headquarters of North America’s second-largest oil and gas giant furthers the consolidation of much of the world’s top energy companies in Texas, where there are many more energy workforce options and where much of the nation’s energy infrastructure is concentrated along the U.S. Gulf Coast.

Despite Chevron moving much of its operations to Houston in the past, the company had always proven reluctant to change its longtime San Ramon headquarters east of San Francisco.

The largest energy player, Exxon Mobil, previously relocated from the Dallas area in Irving to the Houston suburb of Spring, where it now has a sprawling campus.

Chevron said there will be minimal immediate relocation impacts to other employees currently based in San Ramon. The company expects all corporate functions to more slowly migrate to Houston over the next five years. Positions in support of the company’s California operations will remain in San Ramon.

Chevron currently has roughly 7,000 employees in the Houston area and about 2,000 in San Ramon. The company still operates crude oil fields, technical facilities, two refineries and supplies more than 1,800 retail stations in California.

Chevron also announced several leadership retirements and promotions.

Nigel Hearne, executive vice president for oil, products and gas, will retire from after 35 years with the company. He led the consolidation of Chevron’s upstream, midstream and downstream businesses for a more integrated approach to value chains. Vice Chairman Nelson will take responsibility for Hearne’s job effective Oct. 1.

Rhonda Morris, vice president and chief human resources officer, will retire after 31 years with the company. Michelle Green, vice president for human resources, oil, products and gas, will succeed her as vice president and chief human resources officer effective Jan. 1.

Colin Parfitt, vice president for midstream, will retire after 29 years of service. The company appointed Andy Walz, currently president of America’s products, to president of downstream, midstream and chemicals effective Oct. 1. In this role, Walz will be responsible for directing the company’s worldwide manufacturing, marketing, lubricants, chemicals and additives businesses along with Chevron’s shipping, pipeline, power and trading units.

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