Kevin McLachlan, newly appointed VP of Exploration at Chevron.
Chevron Corp. has appointed Kevin McLachlan as Vice President of Exploration, effective November 1, succeeding Liz Schwarze, who will retire in February 2026 after 36 years with the company. McLachlan will lead Chevron’s global exploration program and will be based in Houston.
“Kevin will be an important addition to the Exploration organization,” said Clay Neff, President of Chevron Upstream. “He joins us as an experienced energy executive with a strong record of leading exploration organizations to achieve industry-leading performance and value creation.”
McLachlan brings more than 30 years of international oil and gas experience across exploration, development, and carbon capture and storage (CCS). He previously served as Senior VP of Exploration at TotalEnergies, a position he held for nearly a decade before being succeeded this month by Eni’s Nicola Mavilla. At TotalEnergies, McLachlan oversaw major global discoveries, including those in Namibia and Suriname. McClachlan holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Geophysics from the University of Calgary.
Neff also praised Schwarze’s long-standing contributions to the company, noting that her leadership “has consistently improved business outcomes in every organization and location where she has worked.” Schwarze, who began her career with Chevron in 1989, has led the company’s exploration efforts since 2016, guiding major international programs and advancing new resource opportunities.
Chevron said the leadership transition underscores its ongoing focus on disciplined exploration, portfolio optimization, and long-term upstream growth.
This week’s dual leadership changes at Chevron and TotalEnergies mark a notable transition in global exploration leadership across two of the industry’s largest upstream portfolios, signaling continued emphasis on disciplined exploration and value-focused portfolio growth.
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