Cynthia J. Warner
Former President and Chief Executive Officer, Renewable Energy Group, Inc.
Age 65
Director since June 2022
Independent: Yes
Yas Marina Committees: Public Policy and Sustainability
Current Public Company Directorships: Sempra Energy, Bloom Energy
Ms. Warner served as President & Chief Executive Officer for Renewable Energy Group, Inc. (REG) and as a member of REG’s Board of Directors from January 2019 until June 2022. Prior to REG, she served as Executive Vice President, Operations for Andeavor from August 2016 to October 2018 when Andeavor was acquired by Marathon Petroleum Corporation. Prior to that, she served as Andeavor’s Executive Vice President, Strategy and Business Development from October 2014 to August 2016. She was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sapphire Energy, Inc. from 2012 to 2014 and was Chairman and President of Sapphire Energy from 2009 to 2011. Prior to 2009, she was Group Vice President, Global Refining at BP plc. Ms. Warner serves as a Trustee of the Committee for Economic Development and is a member of the National Petroleum Council. She is on the Vanderbilt University School of Engineering Board of Advisors and serves as an Advisory Board Member for the Columbia University Center on Global Energy Policy (CGEP).
Prior Public Company Directorships (within last five years): Renewable Energy Group, Inc.; IDEX Corporation
Other Directorships and Memberships: Trustee of the Committee for Economic Development; member of the National Petroleum Council; Board of Advisors of Vanderbilt University School of Engineering; Columbia University Center on Global Energy Policy (Advisory Board member); Board of Trustee of the University of the Incarnate Word
Skills and qualifications
Business Leadership/Operations: Over forty years of business leadership experience in the traditional and renewable energy sectors, holding key roles in technology development, operations, business development, strategy, environment, health, and safety. Named a Fortune 2020 Businessperson of the Year.
Environmental Affairs: More than 35 years of experience in the traditional and renewable energy sectors with an extensive background in refining and its health, safety, security, and environmental operations and efforts. Led the groundbreaking cooperative effort with the Environmental Protection Agency to shape a framework for clean air improvements, to which the entire U.S. refining industry eventually signed on.
Finance: More than a decade of fiscal responsibility and experience at Sapphire Energy, Andeavor/ Marathon, and Renewable Energy Group, Inc.
Global Business/International Affairs: Former CEO of an international company that produces and supplies renewable fuels like biodiesel and renewable diesel, renewable chemicals, and other products. Current and former director of companies with international operations. Worked and resided internationally for over ten years, including having responsibility for operations of refineries and pipeline systems in five continents.
Leading Business Transformation: Developed and executed a strategy to grow Renewable Energy Group’s value delivery by over three times in three years; spearheaded significant growth at Andeavor, including acquisition of Western Refining and purchase and conversion of the Dickinson refinery to a renewable diesel plant; oversaw implementation of a multifaceted operations management system for BP’s entire refining system; led award-winning effort to improve union/management relationships at the Amoco Texas City refinery.
Science/Technology/Engineering: B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Vanderbilt University. Served as process development engineer and internal process technology consultant at Amoco Oil Company for over a decade. Currently serving on the Board of Advisors of Vanderbilt University School of Engineering. As CEO of Sapphire Energy, oversaw development of technology to produce oil from algae, successfully building and placing into operation one of the largest algae farms in the world. Appointed to the Vanderbilt University School of Engineering Academy of Distinguished Alumni in 2019.
Updated: October 2023