Source: ExxonMobil CEO is Trump's likely pick for Sec. of State

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Saturday, December 10, 2016
Tillerson emerges as Sec of State frontrunner
ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson has emerged as Trump's likely pick for Secretary of State, senior transition officials tell ABC News.

NEW YORK CITY (KTRK) -- ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson has emerged as Trump's likely pick for Secretary of State, senior transition officials tell ABC News.

Tillerson, who has worked at Exxon for more than 40 years, has been the CEO since 2006. He has no formal diplomatic experience. The company issued a statement on Nov. 4 supporting the Paris climate agreement.

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In 2013, he was awarded the Order of Friendship by Russian President Vladimir Putin - an indication of Tillerson's closeness to the Kremlin. Tillerson was at one time responsible for Exxon's holdings in Russia and the Caspian Sea as well as operations off Sakhalin Island in the nation's far east, according to his bio on the ExxonMobil website.

Trump has been criticized for his perceived closeness to Russia, and questions about his posture toward the country repeatedly arose during the 2016 presidential campaign.

ABC News contributed to this report.

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