Engagement

Engagement is an increasingly important component of our corporate citizenship strategy. Our engagement efforts help ExxonMobil identify those issues that are most material to our business operations and shape our approach to addressing a range of areas relating to the financial, social, and environmental performance of the Corporation.

Communication and engagement
We are continually working to enhance the quality of our community engagement and external relations, with the goal of fostering understanding, trust, and cooperation on key issues. To be effective, our outreach efforts must be built on honest, transparent, accurate, and timely information. Over the past year, our engagement activities covered a wide range of topics, including environmental, governance, and social issues.

Successful dialogue entails a deep understanding of our business parameters, operations, and industry issues by key stakeholders. We address this challenge by gathering senior policy analysts, executive directors of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and social investment professionals for in-depth dialogues with senior management at ExxonMobil.

Worldwide, we engage with the communities in which we operate as well as with governments, NGOs, shareholders, customers, suppliers, employees, and others to help identify and manage issues of mutual concern and interest. We seek dialogue with those groups and individuals that our operations directly impact or that can have a direct impact on our operations or reputation. Our engagement takes many forms, including internal and external one-on-one and group dialogues; senior executive speeches; quarterly earnings teleconferences; focus groups; community consultations; e-mail communications; publications such as the Corporate Citizenship Report, Summary Annual Report, and The Lamp; and content on our Web site.

Governments

38 countries with exploration and production acreage

Shareholders

~2.5 million individuals in ~2000 institutions

Communities
and NGOs

440 interactive sessions in 34 countries

Customers

~7 million drivers per day purchased fuel at retail stations

Employees

~80,000 employees
in 80 countries
around the world

Suppliers

~175,000 suppliers of goods and services

In 2009, Chairman and CEO, Rex W. Tillerson was recognized by IR Magazine through its Best Investor Relations by a CEO Award for his efforts to engage investors in 2008. The award is based on survey results from more than 3500 financial analysts.

Improving corporate reporting through stakeholder feedback
ExxonMobil is committed to continuous improvement in reporting. Each year, we solicit feedback on our Corporate Citizenship Report from external experts and use this feedback in our report planning process.

In 2008, we conducted interviews with NGOs, socially responsible investment firms, academia, international organizations, and industry analysts to identify information gaps, strengths, and weaknesses in our 2007 Corporate Citizenship Report. As a result of this feedback, this year’s report was developed to give the greatest attention to our most material issues.

In addition, stakeholder engagement on the 2007 Corporate Citizenship Report resulted in:

• Increased focus on challenges and outcomes, and less on processes;
• Discussion of our business case and strategy for sustainability;
• Inclusion of a specific example of a high-profile shareholder resolution and the Corporation’s response;
• Greater discussion on certain issues such as oil sands, public policy, and flaring; and,
• Enhanced review and assurance of the report through an External Assessment Panel.