Chesapeake Has Been Oklahoma City's Angel

Chesapeake Energy Corp. Chief Executive Officer Aubrey McClendon will resign from the company he built into the second-largest U.S. natural gas producer after scrutiny of his personal finances and a corporate cash crunch erased as much as 43% of its market value last year.

Aubrey McClendon is out as CEO of Chesapeake Energy after turning a company he founded from scratch 30 years ago into the country's second-largest natural gas producer. What happened?  The short answer is the low natural gas prices destroyed the company's earnings.

Chesapeake Energy CEO Aubrey McClendon will retire effective April 1, according to a company release. Shares of CHK are surging in after-hours trading An internal review found McClendon did not engage in any improper conduct.

Chesapeake Energy Corp reported quarterly profit that exceeded Wall Street expectations on Wednesday, as the U.S. oil and gas company produced more crude oil from shale basins like the Eagle Ford in Texas and expenses fell. Chesapeake, under the direction of a board handpicked by its largest investors and interim Chief Executive Steve Dixon, is focused on drilling its best properties and increasing output of more profitable crude oil while lowering spending.