COB, CEO
Ryan Michael Lance is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (COB, CEO) of ConocoPhillips (COP), a leading independent exploration and production company, a position he has held since May 2012[[1]](https://www.conocophillips.com/about-us/leadership/ryan-lance/)[[4]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_Lance). Born on May 21, 1962, in Butte, Montana, Lance earned a Bachelor of Science in petroleum engineering from Montana Technological University in 1984, funding his education through work on oil rigs[[1]](https://www.conocophillips.com/about-us/leadership/ryan-lance/)[[3]](https://mtech.edu/news/2023/04/montana-tech-alumnus-ryan-lance-84-chairman-and-ceo-of-conocophillips-company-and-his-wife-lisa-make-historic-31-million-gift-to-montana-technological-university.html)[[6]](https://www.climatecriminals.org/ryan-lance). With over four decades of experience in the oil and natural gas industry, his career includes senior roles at ConocoPhillips, predecessor Phillips Petroleum, and ARCO divisions, such as international exploration and production, regional leadership in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and North America, and oversight of technology and major projects[[1]](https://www.conocophillips.com/about-us/leadership/ryan-lance/)[[5]](https://fcx.com/node/1361).
Under Lance's leadership, ConocoPhillips transformed into a 'superindependent' through strategic divestments, organic growth, and key acquisitions including Concho Resources (2020), Shell's U.S. unconventional assets (2021), Surmont oil sands (2023), and Marathon Oil ($22.5 billion in 2024), boosting production to nearly 2.4 million barrels of oil equivalent per day by Q2 2025[[2]](https://www.energyintel.com/00000199-cdd9-d804-add9-cdff1f310001). He serves on boards including National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, George and Barbara Bush Foundation, PGA Reach, Spindletop International, Freeport-McMoRan, and is involved with the American Petroleum Institute and National Petroleum Council[[1]](https://www.conocophillips.com/about-us/leadership/ryan-lance/)[[4]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_Lance)[[5]](https://fcx.com/node/1361)[[7]](https://www.gurufocus.com/insider/10325/ryan-michael-lance). Lance and his wife Lisa donated $31 million to Montana Technological University in 2023 to support energy education and research[[3]](https://mtech.edu/news/2023/04/montana-tech-alumnus-ryan-lance-84-chairman-and-ceo-of-conocophillips-company-and-his-wife-lisa-make-historic-31-million-gift-to-montana-technological-university.html). As a corporate insider, he owns significant COP shares[[7]](https://www.gurufocus.com/insider/10325/ryan-michael-lance).
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