John Hofmeister

John Hofmeister Profile

John Hofmeister’s career took a dramatic turn when he went from being the President of Shell Oil to the founder and current head of Citizens for Affordable Energy, a non-profit organization that educates people about energy and environmental solutions for the 21st Century. A world-class champion of alternative fuels and weaning the U.S. off foreign oil, he travels around the country in a grassroots campaign to change the way individuals and businesses look at energy in the United States.

As president of Shell Oil, John was known for being “a straight shooter”, willing to challenge his peers throughout the industry. During his tenure he led an unprecedented nationwide outreach program within the oil business to discuss what must be done to ensure affordable, available energy for the future.

John is the author of Why We Hate the Oil Companies: Straight Talk from an energy insider. In addition to his work at Citizens for Affordable Energy, he serves on the board of the
Fuel Freedom Foundation, America’s Greener Technologies, Erin Energy Company, and Applus, a global leader in the vehicle emissions inspection industry. He is a Distinguished Sustainability Scholar with the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Institute of Sustainability at Arizona State University.

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  • John Hofmeister, upon retirement from Shell Oil Company in July, 2008, founded and heads the not-for-profit (501(c)(3) pending), nation-wide membership association, Citizens for Affordable Energy. This Washington, D.C.-registered, public policy education firm will exist to promote sound U.S. energy security solutions for the nation, including a range of affordable energy supplies, efficiency improvements, essential infrastructure, sustainable environmental policies and public education on energy issues.

  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 led 250 other Shell leaders to meet 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.

  A business leader who has participated in the inner workings of multiple industries for over 35 years, Hofmeister also has held key leadership positions in General Electric, Nortel and AlliedSignal (now Honeywell International).

  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, and the Sodexo Business Advisory Board. He also serves on the boards of the Foreign Policy Association, Strategic Partners, LLC, the Gas Technology Institute and the Center for Houston’s Future. Hofmeister is a Fellow of the National Academy of Human Resources. He also is a past Chairman and serves as a Director of the Greater Houston Partnership.

  Hofmeister earned Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Political Science from Kansas State University.