Darryl Willis

Darryl Keith Willis (born c. 1969) is an American geologist and publicist, currently working as Global Vice President for Energy at Microsoft.[1] He previously worked as Vice President of Oil, Gas and Energy for Google and as President and General Manager of BP Angola.[2]

For the basketball player, see Darral Willis.
Darryl Willis
Born1969 (age 51–52)
New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
NationalityAmerican
OccupationMicrosoft Global Vice President of Energy

Deepwater Horizon response

Willis gained national attention in 2010 when the Louisiana native volunteered to lead the company's claims efforts following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Willis was vice president for resources at BP at the time and appeared in many public relations advertisements clad in an orange polo shirt. He was also featured in CNN's The Situation Room and testified before Congress about the incident and response.[3]

Willis, a geologist by profession, said he was tapped for the volunteering after hearing BP executives discuss the plan. "Folks were talking about paying claims in 30 to 60 days...And I knew, being from Louisiana, that that was going to be about 30 days too long, and we needed to get people's claims paid as quickly as possible."[4]

Willis grew up in Pontchartrain Park, New Orleans, and graduated from McDonogh No. 35 Senior High School.[5]

Willis said he was surprised by his high-profile position. "I actually took over this role assuming I would be tucked away in some office making sure systems and processes were working," he said.[4]

Personal life

Willis graduated from Louisiana Scholars' College at Northwestern State University in 1991, and then earned a Master of Science in Geology and Geophysics from the University of New Orleans in 1993, as well as a Master's in Global Management and Public Policy from Stanford in 2007.[6]

Willis married his wife, Dawnia Tyrese Richard Willis, on September 10, 2005, on Martha's Vineyard days after his mother, Cora Hambrick Willis, lost her house in Hurricane Katrina.[7]

References
  1. Rizvi, Sarah (November 16, 2019). "Microsoft to open AI R&D center for energy industry". ChannelME. Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  2. Agboola, Adedammola (June 25, 2018). "Exec who oversaw BP's oil spill in the Gulf joins INROADS board of directors". Black Enterprise. New York City, New York. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  3. CNN Wire Staff (2010-06-03). "BP: We'll pay the bill for now". Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. Retrieved 30 June 2010.
  4. Rose, Julie (July 1, 2010). "Darryl Willis: BP's Unexpected Public Relations Man". NPR. Retrieved 2010-07-10.
  5. Rioux, Paul, West Bank bureau (2010-06-27). "New Orleans native gives BP a friendlier face". NOLA.com. Archived from the original on 2013-04-11. Retrieved 2010-07-10.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. Darryl K. Willis profile on Facebook
  7. Carmichael Bayne, Sandra. "Katrina can't dampen Louisianans' wedding". The Martha's Vineyard Times. Archived from the original on 2011-09-27. Retrieved 2010-07-10.
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