Switzerland-headquartered offshore contract drilling services provider for oil and gas wells Transocean has announced a CEO succession plan as part of the company’s multi-year succession planning strategy.
Transocean owns or has partial ownership interests in and operates a fleet of 34 mobile offshore drilling units, consisting of 26 ultra-deepwater floaters and eight harsh environment floaters.
The New York-listed company announced that Keelan Adamson, the company’s president and chief operating officer, will become president and chief executive officer following a transition period, which is expected to conclude during the second quarter of 2025.
Adamson will succeed Jeremy Thigpen, who has led Transocean as chief executive officer since 2015. He is also expected to be nominated to join the board of directors at the company’s 2025 annual general meeting of shareholders.
Thigpen will continue serving as chief executive officer until Adamson’s appointment and will continue his service as a member of the company’s board of directors through his current term.
Thereafter, subject to shareholder approval at the 2025 annual general meeting, Thigpen is expected to be appointed as executive chair of the board of directors, and Chad Deaton, Transocean’s current chair of the board, will transition to lead independent director.
Mr. Adamson joined Transocean in 1995 and has held rig management positions in the United Kingdom, Asia and Africa, sales and marketing leadership roles, and served as the managing director for the company’s business in North America, Canada and Trinidad.
“It is an honor to succeed Jeremy, who skillfully guided Transocean through an unprecedented industry downturn and prepared it for the opportunities that we are realizing today,” Keelan Adamson said.
“Throughout his three decades with Transocean, where his experience has taken him from the drill floor to the executive level, Keelan has helped to shape the foundation of the company and position Transocean for sustained success as the industry’s market leader,” Mr. Deaton said.
Deaton also commented about Jeremy Thigpen: “He guided Transocean as we transformed our fleet through opportunistic asset transactions, as well as the acquisition of two major competitors; under his leadership, we placed into service the most technologically advanced rigs in the world, including the first 8th generation, 20K drillships. He oversaw the continuation of Transocean’s legacy for leading the industry in innovation, with the application of new technologies that improve the safety, reliability and efficiency of our operations.”
