Mark Lashier, CEO of Phillips 66, also spoke about the energy company’s new directors and its relationship with the activist investor Elliott Management. The Houston-based oil and gas company Phillips 66 is named after the bygone era of early American automobiles that drove Route 66—and were fueled by Phillips Petroleum’s 66 octane gasoline. Phillips Petroleum later merged into ConocoPhillips When ConocoPhillips split in two in 2012, Phillips 66 was created.