Exxon names Darren Woods as new boss to replace Rex Tillerson

Exxon Mobil Corp named Darren Woods, the heir apparent who built the company's refineries into profit centers, to succeed Rex Tillerson as chairman and chief executive officer, effective Jan 1.

Woods, the company's refining boss since 2012, was elevated after president-elect Donald Trump picked Tillerson to become US Secretary of State, the Irving, Texas-based oil explorer said in a statement on Wednesday.

Even if Tillerson doesn't become the top US diplomat - three Republican senators have expressed misgivings about his nomination - he was due to leave no later than March when he reaches Exxon's mandatory retirement age.