THE ASSOCIATED PRESS May 19, 2008, 8:37AM ET
More support for Exxon Mobil dissidents’ proxy fight
NEW YORK
Four U.K.-based investors and a British proxy advisory firm publicly joined a group of dissident shareholders calling for an independent chairman at Exxon Mobil Corp. on Monday.
The four investors are F&C Asset Management, Co-operative Insurance Society, Morley Fund Management, and West Midlands Pension Fund.
In addition, PIRC Ltd., a proxy advisory firm based in London, has recommended that its clients support the proposal. The proposal is already backed by RiskMetrics Group, Glass Lewis and Proxy Governance Inc.
Exxon Mobil Chairman and Chief Executive Rex W. Tillerson has served in both roles since 2006. The separation effort is being led by longtime shareholder activist Robert A.G. Monks.
“Despite top-notch individual directors, the company’s record over the last decade, particularly regarding climate change, demonstrates that debate has been lacking,” said Karina Litvack, director of governance and sustainable investment at F&C Asset Management. Litvack added that an independent chairman will help avoid “over-dominance by management.”
“Exxon has a track record of generating good returns to shareholders,” said Anita Skipper, head of corporate governance at Morley Fund Management. “However, we believe that the returns would be more sustainable under a governance structure which separated the roles of chairman and chief executive.”
Descendants of John D. Rockefeller, the founder of Exxon Mobil predecessor Standard Oil Corp., and other prominent shareholders have been calling for the roles to be split, with some saying the company is too focused on short-term gains.
Exxon Mobil’s board has said the most effective leadership structure is for Tillerson to remain both chairman and CEO.
Shareholders are expected to vote on the proposal at Exxon Mobil’s annual meeting on May 28.
http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D90ONAK01.htm
This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.
Royal Dutch Shell conspired directly with Hitler, financed the Nazi Party, was anti-Semitic and sold out its own Dutch Jewish employees to the Nazis. Shell had a close relationship with the Nazis during and after the reign of Sir Henri Deterding, an ardent Nazi, and the founder and decades long leader of the Royal Dutch Shell Group. His burial ceremony, which had all the trappings of a state funeral, was held at his private estate in Mecklenburg, Germany. The spectacle (photographs below) included a funeral procession led by a horse drawn funeral hearse with senior Nazis officials and senior Royal Dutch Shell directors in attendance, Nazi salutes at the graveside, swastika banners on display and wreaths and personal tributes from Adolf Hitler and Reichsmarschall, Hermann Goring. Deterding was an honored associate and supporter of Hitler and a personal friend of Goring.
Deterding was the guest of Hitler during a four day summit meeting at Berchtesgaden. Sir Henri and Hitler both had ambitions on Russian oil fields. Only an honored personal guest would be rewarded with a private four day meeting at Hitler’s mountain top retreat.
IN JULY 2007, MR BILL CAMPBELL (ABOVE, A RETIRED GROUP AUDITOR OF SHELL INTERNATIONAL SENT AN EMAIL TO EVERY UK MP AND MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS: 
MORE DETAILS:
A head-cut image of Alfred Donovan (now deceased) appears courtesy of The Wall Street Journal.
