Dean's Advisory Council: Jesse J. Tyson

For the past 2 1/2 years Jesse Tyson led the Global Aviation business for ExxonMobil (EM) based in Brussels, Belgium, working across multiple industry groups in developing strategic solutions around customer segmentation, operational excellence and shareholder return requirements with clients in over 50 countries and 500 locations across the globe.

In this capacity, he partnered with commercial/general/military aviation customers, 100 JV partners, airport authorities, IATA and JIG to identify new ways to enhance existing industry safety and efficiency efforts.  He directed a $10 billion business that delivered over 40% in returns for ExxonMobil with an industry leading safety, health and environment performance. Further, he delivered $30 million per year in operating efficiencies after inflation.

Prior to this assignment, Mr. Tyson led the South America Fuels Marketing efforts for ExxonMobil as President of ExxonMobil Inter-America and Marketing Director.  As chief of this group, his responsibilities included the retail fuel business across "free" and regulated markets.  He represented EM with the Council of the Americas, the Department of Commerce, State and Energy, USTR and host governments on formal processes to enhance free trade agreement implementation and harmonization of product specifications across the region with a focus on leveraging scale.

Earlier, Mr. Tyson served as the Global Customer Service and Logistics Manager with functional responsibility for distribution operations, road transportation and order to cash management. In this position, he led and developed EM's global call center consolidations, from 40 to 9 centers, globally.  Mr. Tyson has many years of experience on efficiency, risk management, and safety projects.  He is considered a global marketing and operations expert having served in many positions within ExxonMobil with responsibilities for Europe, Asia, Latin America, Africa and the USA.

Tyson holds a B.S. in economics and business from Lane College and an MBA from The Ohio State University.  He has attended The Brookings Institute and The International Management Development School in Switzerland.  In addition, he served as an Economic Intern with the US State Department in Senegal.

He is a past Board member of The Ensemble Theatre and Children’s Museum in Houston, the Dean’s Executive Advisory Board at Florida International University, the Board of Directors of The Foundation for Management Education in Central America, Florida A&M University and currently serves on the Advisory Board of the Fisher College of Business at The Ohio State University, Board of Trustees at Lane College and is a member of the Orange Bowl Committee.

Jesse was named one of the “Twelve Good Men” by the Ronald McDonald House Charities and is a recipient of numerous awards and honorable mentions over the years, including the 2009 Black Enterprise “most influential black executive”.  Most recently, he received The Ohio State Business School Global Diversity Award and the 100 Black Men of America Lifetime Achievement Award for Community Service.  Tyson is often sought as an inspirational speaker to youth across the country as well as a guest university lecturer on globalization and the global energy outlook.

Jesse and his wife, Cheryl, recently moved back to the US after living in Brussels.  They are avid joggers, love traveling the world and are proud parents of three adult daughters.  Jesse retired from ExxonMobil in April 2011 with 35 years of service.