William R. “Bill” Thomas was named Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for EOG Resources, Inc. (EOG), in January 2014. EOG, based in Houston, Texas, is the largest oil producer in Texas and a leading U.S. independent exploration and production company and a pioneer in the development of unconventional horizontal shale resources. Mr. Thomas has been with EOG and its predecessor companies for 37 years.

He had previously served as President and Chief Executive Officer since June 2013 and as President since September 2011. In addition, he held a number of other corporate leadership positions, including Senior Executive Vice President, Exploration, and Senior Vice President, Exploitation.

Prior to his move to the Houston headquarters in February 2011, Mr. Thomas spearheaded EOG’s drive to explore horizontal shale potential with the development of EOG’s Barnett Shale Play in North Texas and other key resource plays. While based in Fort Worth, Mr. Thomas served as Executive Vice President and, before that, as Senior Vice President and General Manager, beginning in June 2004.

He also headed EOG offices in Midland and Corpus Christi, where he was named Vice President and General Manager in 1988. Early in his career, he held a number of technical positions including district geologist, senior exploration geologist and production geologist. Mr. Thomas joined an EOG predecessor company as a production engineer in the organization’s Sonora office in 1979. He started his career at an oil field services company, Dowell, as a district engineer.

Mr. Thomas earned a Bachelor of Science degree in geology from Texas A&M University at College Station. He is a member of the board of directors for National Oilwell Varco.

He is a member of the All American Wildcatters Association, the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, the Fort Worth Geological Society, and the Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners Association. He is an advocate for EOG’s community charity activities, and he and his wife Jane serve on the advisory board of Casa de Esperanza. He is active in his church and is a strong supporter of international relief efforts through Samaritan’s Purse.

Mr. Thomas and his wife have three daughters.