Bob Pease, an independent director at Phillips 66, defended the company's performance and criticized Elliott Investment Management in a recent development that has escalated the boardroom dispute between the U.S. refiner and the activist investor. Elliott, which disclosed a stake exceeding $2.5 billion in Phillips 66 earlier this year, has been advocating for operational modifications and a revamp of the company's board. Pease joined the refiner's board in February 2024 under an agreement with the activist investor. In a communication to shareholders, Pease characterized Elliott as a shareholder who lacked focus. He pointed out the erratic nature of Elliott's communication style, mentioning extended periods of silence followed by sudden public actions. Elliott did not respond immediately to Reuters' request for a comment. The dispute between Phillips 66 and Elliott coincides with both entities nominating candidates for the upcoming board election in May. Phillips 66 put forth four executives as director nominees, including Pease, while Elliott proposed seven nominees who could potentially replace him. According to Pease's letter, Elliott rejected the board's attempts to meet with their nominees, creating uncertainty about Elliott's intent to remove him from the board.