With increasing age and health issues, energy mogul T. Boone Pickens has announced he is retiring as a board of directors member of California-based Clean Energy Fuels Corps., a company which he co-founded.
The announcement came Wednesday and the board of directors voted to designate the Oklahoma native as Director Emeritus which will entitle him to attend future Board meetings.
Pickens is now 90 and is known for his contribution of millions of dollars toward the Oklahoma State University football program. But his age and health kept him from attending the opening season game.
“Disappointed and apologies,” tweeted the Holdenville native. “Made it to airplane taking me to #okstate game. Felt exhausted and unsteady. Will be at game in spirit, not in person. Thanks for understanding. #tv4me.”
“Clean Energy is incredibly fortunate to have had the entrepreneurial leadership for the last 23 years of one of history’s great wildcatters in Boone. His vision in the establishment of and continued contribution to Clean Energy and its successes is hard to measure,” said Andrew J. Littlefair, president and CEO of Clean Energy. “But as the company has moved into its own leadership position in the alternative fuel market, we will benefit greatly from the guidance and counsel of two seasoned executives of one of the world’s most visionary energy companies in Momar and Philippe.”
“There remains no greater believer in the potential of natural gas as a heavy-duty fuel than me,” said Pickens, who turned 90 earlier this year. “I’m grateful for the recognition Clean Energy has given me. This transition to Director Emeritus will allow me to more fully focus on recovering from some recent health setbacks. I plan on staying involved with the company. In stepping back a bit, I’m confident in the company’s great leadership and that its new partnership with Total will be pivotal to its long-term success.”
His retirement was included in an announcement by Clean Energy Fuels Corps. that it had added two senior executives from Total S.A. to its board of directors.
The new members are Momar Nguer, President of total Marketing Services S.A., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Total and Philippe Montanteme, Senior Vice President of Strategy Marketing Research of Total Marking Services.
Their appointments came after Total, one of the largest energy companies in the world, purchased a 25% stake in Clean Energy through Total Marketing in June, 2018.