If EESO is purchased and remains a wholly owned subsidiary of the parent company (such as the arrangement that DOW and Rohm and Haas have entered into), then normal operations and current positions may not change much at all. Just because a company has been merged or bought out, doesn't always mean that positions are cut and new people are brought in. You see that more in transactions involving competitors.....
In the meantime, the buyout could be delayed and just as Mark Newbauer stated, ESSO has so much momentum right now that they felt they could not jeopardize progress by delaying to fill an integral position within the company. I believe OGclip has a nice email from Mark stating exactly as such.
Chad