November
2008
|
| Cougar ProfilE |
 In
1982, Marvin Odum (MBA ’95) joined Shell as
an engineer. Through the years he held a range of management positions
in technical and commercial operations. Then, in May 2008, he made
his way to the very top. more |
Marvin Odum
(MBA '95)
Odum is now president of Shell Oil Company and executive vice president for the Americas for Shell Exploration & Production. In this position, he leads the U.S. Country Leadership team, which includes the leaders of all Shell businesses operating in the United States. As executive vice president since 2005, he has responsibility for Shell exploration and production businesses in the western hemisphere. In addition, he remains a member of the Global Exploration & Production Leadership team.
Prior to his current assignment, Odum was Chief Executive Officer of InterGen, a global power generation company active in thirteen countries and an affiliate of Bechtel Enterprises. He also served as Shell Gas & Power Director for the Americas.
Odum earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Texas and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Houston. Odum serves on the board of directors of the American Petroleum Institute (API) and is chairman of the API Upstream Committee. He is a member of the Dean’s Council of the Harvard Kennedy School and the University of Texas’ College of Engineering Advisory Board. He serves on the University Cancer Foundation Board of Visitors for M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and on the board of directors of the Palmer Drug Abuse Program.
He and his wife, Mariloli, have three children.
Odum succeeded John Hofmeister as president of Shell Oil, the U.S. holding company for Royal Dutch Shell.
In an interview by the Times-Picayune in New Orleans this summer, Odum said one of his top priorities as president will be addressing the energy crisis.
“We cannot miss this opportunity to get a real energy strategy for the United States," Odum said. "It's impacting people. It's on the top of the agenda. I think what happens in the next few years will be very important."
