10 Things You Didn’t Know about Andeavor CEO Gregory Goff
Andeavor is an oil refinery and logistics corporation that has 10 refineries and employs more than 14,000 people in 18 states west of the Mississippi. Gregory Goff has become its CEO, having a tremendous record of success that precedes him. Here are some things you are not likely to know about Goss and the experience he brings to the Andeavor endeavor to grow and remain competitive.
1. He loves his home state of Utah.
We’re not talking about simply finding it to be a nice place to call home. Everything from its large number of wide open spaces to the picturesque beauty of the mountains and desert areas, they are things he would have a very hard time giving up.
2. He is definitely the outdoorsy type.
Among the recreational things he likes to do are fly fishing and mountain bike riding. He says he is especially appreciative of being able to do them in Utah because his business career keeps him so busy it is hard to find time to fit them into his schedule.
3. Conoco Phillips was his first career stop after graduating from college.
After earning a bachelor’s and master’s degree from the University of Utah, he took his first job at Conoco Phillips, entering into a management development program. It only took a few weeks for his bosses to realize he would need to be fast tracked to maximize his considerable talent.
4. One of his first people skill tests involved a bus ride up to Lake Tahoe, Nevada.
As the story goes, his supervisor intentionally put the upcoming white collar Goff on a bus load of union guys – truckers and mechanics. The purpose was to see how he would handle himself in a situation where everyone around him had a completely different view of the workaday world. Also keep in mind that this was a time when the relationship management and unions were strained. Goss reflected on the trip, saying “those guys drink like fish” and mentioned they had to stop once to refill the liquor supply. In the end, he established a great relationship with his traveling companions – and their wives who were also on board.
5. He proved early on he had the capacity to engage with diverse groups of people.
One bus tour does not a career make, but the feedback about Goss’ people management skills came from the union guys themselves. The union guys had told his boss they think he was going to do alright as a manager. He was friendly and could relate to the everyday worker, an essential skill when selected to be CEO of a major corporation.
6. Tesoro was the next step in Goss’ career due to a bit of espionage.
Goss would move from Conoco Phillips to Tesoro after he decided his time with Conoco Phillips had run its course in the development of his career. He would later say that Tesoro had been recruiting him for virtually his entire time at Conoco. Despite the ongoing offers, Goss remained loyal to Conoco, a key personal asset required for rising to any key position in a company.
7. Goss’ impact once joining Tesoro was to see its stock price rise by more than 700 percent.
When joining Tesoro, the stock price of the company was at $10 a share. Within a few years the price would soar to $75 a share. A former manager at Conoco Phillips said that when he learned of Goss move to Tesoro he wondered about the wisdom of the decision, since he was ready to dump all of the Tesoro stock he owned. It may have been his confidence in Goss that steered him to believe he knew what he was doing.
8. As with many intelligent people, he requires constant challenges to be at his happiest.
It became obvious that when Goss joined Tesoro the many challenges presented by the company would not only keep him busy, but happy. He likes to work long hours, not endure them. Yet he knows when to dial down the work environment temperature to spend time with his family and return to the recreational advantages of his home state.
9. In his view, what is important is doing the right thing for the company.
He believes that a CEO’s primary responsibility is to take the whole of the company into the equation when making final decisions. This includes management, employees, and its overall profitability. While he recognizes the importance of the stakeholders, he also recognizes that stakeholders do not benefit unless the company as a whole is successful.
10. He has not left his alma mater behind.
Goss spends a significant amount of time staying connected with his University of Utah alma mater, particularly the Business School. He offers insights and inspiration to students, and serves on a number of boards and committees. For Goss, giving back is a part of being successful.
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