Biography
W. B. (Bill) Berry is executive vice president of exploration and production for ConocoPhillips.
Berry began his career with Phillips Petroleum Company in 1976 in Houston, and served the company in El Dorado, Arkansas; London, England; Odessa, Texas and Abidjan, Africa. He was named manager for international exploration and production in China in 1992, and in 1995 was named China country manager, worldwide drilling and production. Berry was recognized by the government of China as one of the 31 outstanding foreign experts in 1996. He became vice president of international exploration and production, new ventures, in 1997 and vice president of exploration and production, Eurasia, in 1998. In 2001, he was elected senior vice president of exploration and production, Eurasia-Middle East, a position he held until the ConocoPhillips merger occurred in August 2002. Following the merger, he served as president, Asia Pacific, until year-end 2002, when he was named to his current position.
A native of Mississippi, Berry was born in 1952. He grew up in Gulfport, Mississippi, and graduated in 1974 from Mississippi State University with a bachelor's degree in petroleum engineering. In 1976, he received his master’s degree in petroleum engineering. He served on the board of the Beijing International School from 1996 to 1997, and currently serves on the Dean’s Development Council at Mississippi State University. He also serves on the Asia Society Texas Board, a regional center for the national Asia Society institution, and the University of Oklahoma’s College of Engineering Board of Visitors.