June 4, 2021 | Activist David Threatens Exxon Mobil Goliath Hilliard MacBeth Author of "When the Bubble Bursts: Surviving the Canadian Real Estate Crash" Exxon Mobil suffered a setback at its annual shareholder meeting in voting for members of the board of directors. Exxon lost the vote on three members, giving an activist investment fund a quarter of the seats on the twelve-member board. This new firm, called Engine No. 1, says that it is “pursuing long-term value by harnessing the power of capitalism.” Will this new David be able to slay Goliath? Exxon Mobil has come under attack for its corporate governance as well as its non-action on climate change. Until now Exxon has managed to fend off its nay-sayers and continued to pursue a “business as usual” approach even as the oil and gas industry is facing enormous challenges.