Engine No. 1 Exxon Pick Is a Different Kind of Climate Activist

Engine No. 1 Exxon Pick Is a Different Kind of Climate Activist

(Bloomberg) -- One of the newest faces at Exxon Mobil Corp., Kaisa Hietala, wants to make sure she's not misunderstood as she's propelled to sudden fame in a battle between climate activists and the oil industry.

The 50-year-old Finn -- unknown to corporate America until last month -- won her boardroom seat at Exxon after a campaign by activist hedge fund Engine No. 1 convinced BlackRock Inc., Vanguard Group Inc. and other key investors to back her in a contentious vote.

Speaking in an interview with Bloomberg, Hietala says she understands how important it is to look after a company's “traditional, existing business.” That's after devoting her career to helping the energy industry move away from fossil fuels and over to renewables.