Robert Clay Neff

President, Upstream

Clay Neff, 63, is president of Upstream of Chevron Corporation, a position he has held since July 2025. He is responsible for Chevron’s exploration and production activities across the globe.

Neff recently served as the president of Chevron International Exploration and Production from October 2022 to July 2025 and was responsible for Chevron’s exploration and production activities throughout the international region, including the company’s significant portfolio of assets across Africa, Eurasia-Pacific, and the Middle East. From November 2019 to October 2022, Neff served as president of Chevron Middle East, Africa, South America Exploration and Production Company and as president of Chevron Africa and Latin America Exploration and Production Company from 2017 to 2019, during which time he was responsible for the company’s exploration and production activities in those regions.

Neff joined Chevron and its subsidiaries in 1985 and brings extensive international upstream experience, including prior leadership positions as Managing Director of the Nigeria / Mid-Africa business unit; General Manager of Asset Development and Production Operations Manager for the Southern Africa business unit; General Manager of Operations for the Gulf of Mexico business unit; General Manager of Asset Development for the San Joaquin Valley business unit; and Manager of North America midstream business.

Clay currently serves on the board of the Corporate Council on Africa and the US-Saudi Business Council, as well as on the Board of Advisors for the U.S. Bilateral Chamber of Commerce.

Clay received a bachelor’s degree in petroleum engineering from Louisiana State University, where he is currently a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council for the university’s College of Engineering.