API announces that Mike Sommers will be the new President and CEO of the American Petroleum Institute, following an election on May 2, by API's Board of Directors and a thorough search and transition planning process.
Known for bipartisan collaboration and visionary strategic planning, Sommers brings two decades of political experience to API, including his current role as president and CEO of the American Investment Council.
Sommers will take the helm of API later this summer and succeed Jack Gerard, who announced earlier this year that he will step down this summer after a decade at API and relocate to Salt Lake City. Sommers will work closely with API's member companies, Jack Gerard and API's senior team in the coming months to ensure a smooth leadership transition.
"I'm honored to work with API's broad membership and lead one of the most influential trade associations representing all facets of the oil and natural gas industry," said Sommers. "At a time of transformational progress when natural gas and oil are pioneering groundbreaking innovation, delivering tremendous environmental benefits, and leading long-term economic solutions, I look forward to continuing the work of API's talented team and representing an industry that is directly enhancing the lives and improving opportunities for Americans and people around the world."
Prior to joining the American Investment Council as President and CEO in 2016, Sommers served as Chief of Staff to Speaker of the House John A. Boehner (R-OH) and in other capacities in House leadership for more than a decade. Sommers has served at the center of nearly every major policy decision in the last decade and successfully negotiated bipartisan achievements on landmark legislation, including the Trouble Asset Relief Program in 2008, the resolution of the fiscal cliff in 2013, the Bipartisan Budget Agreement of 2015 and trade promotion authority in 2015. Sommers also served as Special Assistant to the President at the National Economic Council at the White House in 2005.
