Two media organizations are reporting that American Investment Council CEO Mike Sommers will likely be named the next CEO of the American Petroleum Institute, although the oil industry association isn't commenting on the potential hiring at this time.

Citing anonymous sources, news sites Axios and Bloomberg Politics both reported Monday that API's executive committee voted in favor of Sommers for the job. The committee's recommendation now heads to the association's board of directors for a vote, which could take place as early as this week.

Current API CEO Jack Gerard announced earlier this year that he planned to step down from the position once he current contract expired in August. Tax records show Gerard earned nearly $5.5 million in take-home pay in 2016, making him one of the highest-paid association executives that year.

Sommers joined the $8 million-revenue AIC in 2016 after having previously worked as chief of staff for former House John Boehner (R-Ohio). If he becomes CEO of the $230 million-revenue API, he will leap to one of the most powerful lobbying positions in Washington, D.C.

In an email to CEO Update, an API spokesman declined to verify the news reports, instead saying that Gerard's successor "will be announced at the appropriate time once the committee has completed its work."

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