John Hofmeister

John Hofmeister is the former president of Shell Oil Company, and the founding CEO of the not-for-profit, nation-wide membership association, Citizens for Affordable Energy. He is the author of Why We Hate the Oil Companies: Straight Talk from an Energy Insider. Hofmeister's presentations offer rare insight about how the industry works, how special interests work, and how the government approaches energy issues. He offers practical, understandable ideas on the entire spectrum of energy, from green to coal to gas, and solutions you wouldn't expect from a former president of Shell Oil. The future of our energy supply is a pressing issue for industries across the board, and finding a speaker with Hofmeister's level of candor, insight, and urgency is rare. Even better, Hofmeister proposes solutions and a plan for how the U.S. can achieve both energy security and affordability.

Energy Insider. Hofmeister's energy expertise has made him a frequent guest on major media news programs, including NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams, CNN's Larry King Live, MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann, CNBC's The Closing Bell, and PBS's Charlie Rose, to name just a few. He has been interviewed by media outlets including The Washington Post, Fast Company, and USA Today, and his opinion pieces have recently appeared in The New York Times, Forbes, and the Wall Street Journal.
 
Business Leader. Hofmeister was named President of Houston-based Shell Oil Company in March 2005, heading the U.S. Country Leadership Team, which included the leaders of all Shell businesses operating in the United States. He became President after serving as group human resource director of the Shell Group, based in The Hague, The Netherlands. As Shell President, Hofmeister launched an extensive outreach program, unprecedented in the energy industry, to discuss critical global energy challenges. The program included an 18-month, 50-city tour across the country, during which Hofmeister and other Shell leaders met with more than 15,000 business, community and civic leaders, policymakers, and academics to discuss what must be done to ensure affordable, available energy for the future.

Grassroots Solutions. Upon retirement from Shell Oil, Hofmeister founded Citizens for Affordable Energy. This Washington, D.C. registered, public policy advocacy firm promotes sound U.S. energy security solutions for the nation, including a range of affordable energy supplies, efficiency improvements, essential infrastructure, sustainable environmental policy, and public education on energy issues.

Hofmeister serves as the chairman of the National Urban League and is a member of the U.S. Department of Energy's Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technical Advisory Committee. He serves as non-executive Director of the Hunting PLC, London,UK, Lufkin Industries Inc. and the Sodexo North America Business Advisory Board. He is senior advisor to two energy start ups: Liberty Power of Fort Lauderdale, FL and NewEarth Technologies of Seattle, WA. Hofmeister also serves on the boards of the Foreign Policy Association, the United States Energy Association, and the National Association of Manufacturers. Hofmeister is a fellow of the National Academy of Human Resources. He also served as 2007 Chairman of the Greater Houston Partnership. He is active in education serving Advisory Board at the University of Houston and the University of North Texas. He is also a Director of the Texas Education Reform Committee.