Chevron Phillips Chemical CFO Joins Barton School Dean’s Advisory Board
Nov. 15, 2023
By Barton School of Business
About the Barton School of Business
Located in Kansas’ business hub and with significant ties to the business community,
the W. Frank Barton School of Business provides extensive applied learning opportunities.
With in-person and online options, Barton School undergraduate and graduate programs
are tailored to transform the lives of its students. It also holds a double AACSB
accreditation for business and accounting, which puts it in the top 1% of business
schools worldwide. The Barton School was established as the university’s College of
Business Administration and Industry in 1926 and has thousands of graduates around
the world.
The W. Frank Barton School of Business at Wichita State University welcomes Darren
Ercolani to its Dean’s Advisory Board. Ercolani serves as the Senior Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer for Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP.
“As an alumnus of Wichita State and the Barton School, it’s an honor to become one
of the fifty industry leaders helping advance the School that shaped me,” said Ercolani.
“I can’t wait to get started.”
A proven leader with nearly three decades of industry experience, Ercolani has served
as a change agent in Chevron Phillips Chemical’s finance organization and innovation
champion for numerous companywide initiatives. Prior to his current role at Chevron
Phillips Chemical, he was the company’s Senior Vice President of Business Transformation
as well as a general auditor. He has held several finance management and treasury
functions at the domestic and international levels, including owner relations manager,
Asia-region controller, as well as CFO and finance manager at Q-Chem in Qatar. Ercolani
began his career with Koch Industries in 1993 before transitioning to Phillips Petroleum
in 1997. He later joined Chevron Phillips Chemical as treasury associate in 2000.
“The Barton School is blessed to have thousands of high-achieving alumni making a
difference around the world at their companies,” said Dr. Larisa Genin, Dean of the
Barton School. “Being able to bring back Darren to help take the Barton School to
new heights of excellence is a full-circle moment.”
Ercolani currently serves as a board director for the Montgomery County Women’s Center
and a member of the Junior Achievement of Southeast Texas Board of Directors. He earned
a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Wichita State University and an MBA from the
University of St. Thomas.
“Darren is an inspiring leader and a sharp financial mind,” said Margaret Dechant,
chair of the Barton School Dean’s Advisory Board as well as CEO and partner at 6 Meridian.
“His knowledge on business transformation and innovation has helped Chevron Phillips
Chemical grow and we look forward to his impact on the Barton School.”
The Dean’s Advisory Board, which consists of 50 diverse industry leaders from around
the world, works to advance the mission and strategic priorities of the Barton School
through strengthening, enriching and enhancing the student experience.
