It is our hope – and the hope of 92 per cent of all living adult direct descendants of John D. Rockefeller Jr – that ExxonMobil shareholders will vote this month in favour of proxy item 5, which calls for an independent chairman. The vote will come on the heels of the impressive 40 per cent support received last year by the same proxy resolution.

Why do so many favour splitting the positions of chairman and chief executive at a time of near-record profits for the company? It is because we believe this is essential to protect the long-term value of our shares. The case is compelling.