ExxonMobil Upstream Veteran Joins TMC Board Ahead of Seabed Mining Push

The Metals Company has appointed former ExxonMobil upstream executive Liam Mallon to its board of directors, adding decades of offshore development and large-scale capital project experience as the company moves toward potential commercial seabed mining.

Mallon spent 35 years with Mobil and ExxonMobil and served as President of ExxonMobil Upstream Company before retiring in 2025. In that role, he oversaw the oil major’s global exploration, development, and production portfolio and annual capital spending of roughly $20 billion to $30 billion.

His tenure included involvement in ExxonMobil’s Guyana offshore development program and the company’s $60-billion acquisition of Pioneer Natural Resources, a deal that significantly expanded ExxonMobil’s Permian Basin position.

At TMC, Mallon will also chair the board’s Sustainability and Innovation Committee, where his remit will include offshore project economics, operational scaling and environmental management.

The appointment comes as TMC seeks to transition from exploration and technology development toward commercial recovery of polymetallic nodules from the deep seabed. The nodules contain metals including nickel, copper, cobalt and manganese that are used across energy infrastructure, manufacturing and defense supply chains.

TMC is pursuing U.S. authorization through the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act, with its U.S. subsidiary seeking exploration and commercial recovery approvals from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

In August, NOAA published TMC USA’s consolidated application covering exploration and commercial recovery in the USA-A area. The agency has also begun the environmental review process for a separate exploration license application covering the USA-B area.

The regulatory pathway remains a central issue for TMC. Any move into commercial production will depend on the outcome of NOAA’s review, environmental assessments, and the conditions attached to potential permits.

Deep-sea mining has meanwhile become increasingly tied to broader efforts by the United States and other economies to diversify critical mineral supply chains away from dominant overseas suppliers. Supporters argue that seafloor nodules could provide an additional source of strategically important metals, while critics and environmental groups have raised concerns about potential impacts on deep-ocean ecosystems.

TMC said Mallon’s offshore operating experience and track record overseeing major capital programs would strengthen board oversight as the company prepares for a possible shift into full-scale operations.

Mallon replaces Brendan May, who is stepping down after two years on the board.

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