HF Sinclair Names Steve Ledbetter CEO and President, Effective January 2027
HF Sinclair Corporation (NYSE and NYSE Texas, Inc.: DINO), an integrated energy company, has announced the appointment of Steve Ledbetter as its next chief executive officer and president, effective January 1, 2027. Ledbetter currently serves as the company’s president and chief operating officer and will succeed Franklin Myers, who will continue to lead the organization through the leadership transition. The appointment reflects the company’s succession planning efforts and its focus on strengthening operations, advancing strategic priorities and creating long-term value for shareholders.
The company also announced that its Board of Directors intends to expand its membership and appoint Ledbetter as a director at a later date. The planned board appointment is expected to further align the company’s executive leadership with its governance structure as HF Sinclair continues to develop its business strategy and pursue opportunities across its integrated energy platform.
Myers will remain chief executive officer until January 1, 2027, helping ensure continuity and supporting the transition of leadership responsibilities to Ledbetter. Following the transition, Myers will continue serving HF Sinclair as an officer of the company and will assume the role of executive chairperson. He will remain in that position until the completion of the previously announced plan to pursue a separation of the Lubricants & Specialties segment.
As executive chairperson, Myers will advise the company on strategic matters associated with the planned separation. His continued involvement is intended to provide leadership continuity while HF Sinclair advances the process and addresses the organizational and strategic considerations connected with the proposed transaction.
The leadership change comes as HF Sinclair continues to manage its portfolio of refining, renewable energy, marketing and midstream operations. The company’s integrated business model connects several activities across the energy value chain, requiring coordination between commercial strategy, operating performance, asset management and capital investment. Ledbetter’s experience across these areas was identified by the Board as an important qualification for leading the company into its next phase.
Leldon Echols, lead independent director of the HF Sinclair Board of Directors, said Ledbetter’s appointment reflects a deliberate and thoughtful succession planning process. According to Echols, Ledbetter has developed a comprehensive understanding of the company’s businesses through his leadership of its commercial organization and oversight of operational activities.
Echols highlighted Ledbetter’s familiarity with HF Sinclair’s refining, renewables, marketing and midstream businesses, noting that his experience has contributed to initiatives designed to improve safety, strengthen reliability, increase cost efficiency and unlock value throughout the company’s integrated platform.
The Board also emphasized Ledbetter’s combination of commercial knowledge, operational expertise and enterprise-wide perspective. These capabilities are expected to support the company as it continues strengthening its individual businesses while maintaining a coordinated approach to its overall strategy.
Echols said Ledbetter is well positioned to guide HF Sinclair as it works to improve business performance and sharpen its focus on strategic priorities. His appointment is intended to support continuity in the company’s management approach while providing leadership for future operational and commercial initiatives.
Myers expressed appreciation for his time as chief executive officer and acknowledged the contributions of HF Sinclair’s employees, customers and business partners. He said serving in the role has been an honor and emphasized the importance of the relationships developed throughout his tenure.
Myers also expressed confidence in Ledbetter’s ability to lead the organization. Having worked closely with him, Myers said he has observed Ledbetter’s strong understanding of the company’s operations and business priorities. He described Ledbetter as well prepared to assume the chief executive officer and president positions and lead HF Sinclair through its next stage of development.
Myers added that he looks forward to continuing to work with Ledbetter as executive chairperson. In addition to supporting the incoming chief executive, he will assist the company as it advances its planned separation of the Lubricants & Specialties business. His continued participation is expected to help maintain strategic continuity during the transition and the subsequent separation process.
Ledbetter said he was pleased to take on the responsibilities of chief executive officer and president. He emphasized his confidence in HF Sinclair’s employees, assets and ability to execute its business strategy, drawing on his experience working across the company’s operations and collaborating with employees in different areas of the organization.
According to Ledbetter, HF Sinclair has established a strong foundation supported by a portfolio of high-quality businesses. He said these businesses position the company to pursue future opportunities while maintaining attention to operational performance and financial discipline.
Ledbetter identified safety, reliability, commercial excellence and disciplined capital allocation as continuing priorities under his leadership. These areas are central to the company’s approach to managing its assets, improving operating performance and allocating resources to support its business objectives.
Safety and reliability remain important considerations for energy companies operating complex industrial facilities and infrastructure. Maintaining dependable operations can help support production continuity, effective asset utilization and customer requirements. Ledbetter’s stated priorities indicate that HF Sinclair intends to continue emphasizing these operational fundamentals as it executes its broader strategy.
Commercial excellence is another focus for the incoming chief executive. By leveraging its commercial organization and integrated business platform, HF Sinclair aims to pursue opportunities across its operating segments while maintaining attention to business performance and customer needs. Disciplined capital allocation will also remain important as the company evaluates investments and determines how best to deploy financial resources across its portfolio.
Ledbetter said he is honored to lead HF Sinclair into its next chapter and intends to work with employees and other stakeholders to deliver value for shareholders, customers and the workforce. His comments reflect a commitment to building on the company’s existing capabilities while continuing to pursue its strategic objectives.
The transition will take effect on January 1, 2027, with Myers continuing as executive chairperson and company officer following his departure from the CEO position. The duration of his executive chairperson role will be tied to the completion of HF Sinclair’s previously announced plan to pursue a separation of its Lubricants & Specialties segment.
The company’s succession announcement establishes a planned transfer of executive leadership while retaining Myers’ experience during an important strategic period. With Ledbetter preparing to assume the CEO and president positions, HF Sinclair expects to maintain continuity in its operating priorities, commercial strategy and capital allocation approach as it works to strengthen its businesses and pursue long-term shareholder value.
Source Link: https://www.businesswire.com/
