ExxonMobil is the world’s largest listed integrated oil company and arguably also its most successful. It is the envy of its competitors in most of the major categories that keep chief executives busy and therefore trades at a significant premium to its peers. It has the best financial and best safety record of all the major oil companies.

Both achievements have much to do with the fact that ExxonMobil is a tightly-run company, with a deeply ingrained culture, clear goals to maximise returns, and open channels of communication.