Still Coming Out On Top

Changes in corporate ownership can also change the job security status of workers. The new owners may have something else in mind and a corporate guy which looked to have a bright future with a company may be sent packing since someone else (perhaps coming from the group of the new owners) will be handling the job. There may also be some corporate restructuring taking place.

For William R. Klesse changes in ownership did not stop his rise in the companies he had worked for.  He graduated for the University of Dayton with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering degree. Klesse also obtained a Master’s degree in Finance from West Texas A&M University.

He began his career as an engineer trainee at Diamond Shamrock. He rose through the ranks eventually reaching the position of Executive Vice President in 1987. Then in 1996 Ultramar Corp. and Diamond Shamrock merged forming Ultramar Diamond Shamrock (UDS). Klesse wound up being the Executive Vice President of UDS’s refining operations.

In 2001, USD was acquired by Valero. This did not negatively impact Klesse’s career as he then served as Executive Vice President of Refining and Commercial Operations. In fact his star shone brighter. In 2003, Klesse became the Executive Vice President and COO.  He then was named CEO in 2006 and Chairman of the Board in 2007. He couldn’t be considered an insider of Valero having come from the acquired firm but his talent and skills helped him to get the top post at the largest independent oil refining company in the world.