Devon Energy Corp. announced that the company's board of directors has appointed John Bethancourt as independent chair of the board, effective July 1, 2024. Bethancourt joined the company board in 2014 following his retirement from Chevrons executive team.

He currently chairs the boards reserves committee while also serving on the boards compensation committee. Bethancourt succeeds Barbara Baumann, who will remain on the board and join the compensation committee and governance, environmental, and public policy committee. Baumann was recently named chair of the independent board of trustees of the Putnam Mutual Funds, effective July 1, 2024, a commitment that was anticipated at the time she was named Devons chair of the board in 2022.

Johns appointment continues the company?s governance tradition of separating the chair and CEO roles. Bethancourt has broad competencies in matters impacting the energy industry and companies in general, including in areas relating to human resources, environmental matters, and energy-related infrastructure. He is a retired Chevron executive, serving most recently as executive vice president for technology and services, where he oversaw Chevrons environmental, health and safety efforts, major project management, procurement, and mining operations.

Bethancourt began his career with Getty Oil Co. in 1974 and joined Texaco Inc. through a 1984 merger. He earned a bachelors degree in petroleum engineering from Texas A&M University.