Edwin J. Hess
Edwin John Hess | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Newark, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Died | March 25, 2023 (aged 89) Houston, Texas, U.S. |
| Occupation | Business executive |
| Years active | 1957–1998 |
| Known for | Senior Vice President at Exxon; first Vice President of Environment and Safety at Exxon |
Edwin John Hess (November 9, 1933 – March 25, 2023) was an American executive who held the position of Senior Vice President and was a member of the Management Committee at Exxon between 1993 and 1998. He began his career with Exxon in 1957 and was appointed Vice President of Environment and Safety in 1990, leading the company’s initiatives in environmental protection and workplace safety.
Hess was the inaugural corporate vice president dedicated to environment and safety at Exxon, a role established following the company's oil spill incident in the Arthur Kill near Staten Island. This appointment raised environmental accountability to the highest executive tier, allowing Hess to manage environmental and safety programs across the entire corporation. He reported directly to Exxon’s president, Lee R. Raymond.
Early life and education
Born in Newark, New Jersey on November 9, 1933, Hess graduated at the top of his class with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology in 1955. He then earned an MBA from Harvard University in 1957. Throughout his career, Stevens Institute recognized him with several distinctions, including the Alumni Achievement Award (1980), Honor Award (1993), and Renaissance Engineering and Science Award (1996).
Career
Starting at Exxon in 1957 after completing Harvard Business School, Hess entered the company’s management development program. His early assignments included work at Exxon's Bayway Refinery in New Jersey. In 1961, he transferred to Houston and assumed various responsibilities spanning marketing, refining, supply chain, and production functions. By 1974, he advanced to deputy manager of Exxon's public affairs division based in New York City. Returning to Houston in 1978, he was named vice president of marketing for Exxon Company, USA, followed by a promotion to senior vice president in 1981.
In 1985, Hess took on the role of executive vice president overseeing worldwide supply and transportation. Subsequently, he served as senior vice president responsible for marketing, refining, and planning at Exxon Company International, managing oil and gas operations outside the United States. In January 1990, he became Exxon’s first Vice President of Environment and Safety with global oversight of environmental policies and safety programs. By 1993, Hess had ascended to Senior Vice President on Exxon’s Management Committee, effectively acting as second-in-command within the $438 billion enterprise. Additionally, he directed Exxon’s corporate headquarters relocation from New York to Irving, Texas.
One of Hess’s notable accomplishments during his tenure as Vice President of Environment and Safety was spearheading the creation of Exxon’s Operations Integrity Management System (OIMS), a framework that continues to underpin ExxonMobil’s operational standards today.
Outside his corporate responsibilities at Exxon, Hess contributed as chairman of the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering (NACME), served on Harvard Business School’s Executive Council, participated actively within the American Petroleum Institute, and held board memberships including those at Stevens Institute of Technology and Junior Achievement of Dallas.
Death
Hess passed away in Houston, Texas on March 25, 2023, aged 89.
Awards and honors
- 1980 Stevens Institute of Technology Alumni Achievement Award
- 1993 Honor Award from Stevens Institute of Technology
- 1996 Renaissance Engineering and Science Award presented by Stevens
- 2007 Hall of Achievement Award at Stevens Institute of Technology recognizing mechanical engineering contributions