The Federal Trade Commission said the oil giant could acquire the smaller company as long as the chief executive of Hess did not join its board.

US regulators will allow Chevron Corp. to move forward with its $53 billion acquisition of Hess Corp. but are barring Chief Executive Officer John Hess from joining the supermajor’s board, saying he improperly communicated with OPEC.

The US antitrust regulator will allow Chevron Corp. to proceed with its $53 billion acquisition of Hess Corp. on the condition Chief Executive Officer John Hess is barred from the supermajor’s board, alleging he improperly communicated with OPEC.