Head of Exxon’s shale oil business faces sexual assault charges in Texas

By Gary McWilliams

HOUSTON (Reuters) – The head of Exxon Mobil’s shale oil and gas business, a subsidiary embroiled in merger talks with rival Pioneer Natural Resources, was arrested on sexual assault charges at a Texas hotel last week, police said.

David Scott, senior vice president at Exxon and responsible for all oil and gas shale production, was arrested early Thursday morning at a La Quinta Inn & Suites hotel in Magnolia, Texas, the Montgomery Sheriff’s Office said.

Attempts to reach Scott were unsuccessful. It was not immediately clear whether he had legal representation.

“We are aware of the allegations and cannot comment on personal matters. However, we can say that this individual will not continue to perform his or her job duties while the investigation is underway,” said spokeswoman Emily Mir.

“All ExxonMobil employees, officers and directors are responsible for maintaining the highest standards of integrity and conduct, both in the conduct of the company’s business and in other areas,” she added.

Scott, 49, was arrested in his room at the budget hotel near Exxon’s headquarters in Spring, Texas. One of the two women he was in the room with left the room and called police from the lobby, an employee who saw surveillance video told Reuters. Rooms at the hotel cost about $120 a night.

Reuters and other media reported on Thursday that Exxon was in advanced negotiations to acquire Pioneer. The deal could value the oil shale producer at around $60 billion. An agreement could be announced in the next few days, Reuters said, citing three people familiar with the matter.

Scott’s LinkedIn profile shows that he has been with Exxon for more than 26 years and has been involved in some of the company’s most important oil and gas projects. The Australian-born man started at Exxon in Melbourne as an engineer and later worked in Malaysia and Abu Dhabi, where he was president of the subsidiary in the United Arab Emirates.

In 2020, he took over leadership of Exxon’s Permian Basin operations and was promoted to senior vice president earlier this year, responsible for the entire shale oil and gas business.

As senior vice president, he will not necessarily be involved in merger talks, said a person familiar with the matter.

Scott is charged with second-degree assault and was being held on $30,000 bail, according to jail records. Convictions for such crimes in Texas carry a minimum of two years and up to 20 years in prison.

(Reporting by Gary McWilliams; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)