The Metals Company Appoints Ex-ExxonMobil Upstream Chief Liam Mallon to Board

The Metals Company (TMC) appointed former ExxonMobil Upstream Company President Liam Mallon to its board of directors, effective September 2026, as the seabed miner advances toward commercial polymetallic nodule recovery. Mallon spent 35 years at Mobil and ExxonMobil, overseeing a global exploration and production portfolio with annual capital spending of roughly $20 billion to $30 billion, including the Guyana offshore program and the $60 billion Pioneer Natural Resources acquisition. He will chair TMC's Sustainability and Innovation Committee, covering offshore project economics, operational scaling and environmental management. He replaces Brendan May. The appointment follows NOAA's August publication of TMC USA's consolidated application for exploration and commercial recovery in the USA-A area, with a separate environmental review underway for USA-B. Commercial production depends on NOAA approvals and permit conditions. The move aligns with U.S. efforts to diversify critical mineral supply chains for nickel, copper, cobalt and manganese.