ConocoPhillips COO Matt Fox to Retire after 35 Years with Houston Company

ConocoPhillips Co. announced the retirement on Feb. 25 of its COO, Matt Fox, after a 35-year career with the Houston-based independent.

Throughout his decades-long career at ConocoPhillips, Fox has helped guide the “successful transformation” following the spinoff of the company’s downstream business, according to CEO Ryan Lance. He added that Fox also played a key role in the recent acquisition of Concho Resources.

ConocoPhillips is one of the world’s largest independent E&P companies based on production and proved reserves. The company completed its acquisition of Concho Resources, one of the largest independent producers in the Permian Basin, in January. The deal is set to vault the Permian from a potential weak point in Conoco’s portfolio to a cornerstone of its global strategy, according to an Enverus report.

“Matt [Fox] has played a valuable role in helping to guide our successful transformation as an independent E&P company through his technical and mentoring work in decision analysis and capital allocation processes, as well as his support of numerous portfolio high-grading accomplishments, including the recent acquisition of Concho Resources,” Lance said in a statement. “I wish Matt the very best in retirement.”

Fox became a member of the ConocoPhillips executive leadership team at the time of the spinoff of the company’s downstream operations in 2012 and went on to lead operations, exploration, technical functions, business development and strategic activities across the company.

He was named COO of ConocoPhillips in 2018. Previously, he served as executive vice president of strategy, exploration and technology from 2016-18 and, before that, led the company’s E&P operations from 2012-16. 

A reservoir engineer, Fox began his career with Conoco U.K. in 1983 in London and Aberdeen.