Eifler to lead new company’s management team after Noble-Maersk merger

Two offshore drilling contractors Noble Corporation and Maersk Drilling are setting up a management team to run the new company following their merger completion.

The executive management team will be effective after the closing of the business combination announced on 10 November 2021. The combined company will have a proven management team led by Robert W. Eifler as President and Chief Executive Officer, the two companies announced on Friday.

Eifler commented, “This highly capable management team, comprised of existing leadership from both Noble and Maersk Drilling, will bring significant experience and strong leadership values to the combined company. Together, we will work to quickly and successfully integrate the two businesses and help deliver a differentiated value proposition for both our customers and shareholders.”

Other members of the executive management team for the combined company will include Richard B. Barker as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer; William E. Turcotte as Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary; Joey M. Kawaja as Senior Vice President – Operations; Caroline Alting as Senior Vice President – Operational Excellence; and Blake A. Denton as Senior Vice President – Marketing and Contracts.

Furthermore, the management team will include Marika Reis as Chief Innovation Officer; Mikkel Ipsen as Vice President of Human Resources; Kirk T. Atkinson as Head of HSE; Claus Bachmann as Vice President of Operations – North Sea; Matthew J. Brodie as Vice President of Operations – Middle East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific; and, Garth Pulkkinen as Vice President of Operations – Americas.

The two companies have also recently revealed a board of directors for the new combined company, which will become effective upon the closing of the merger.

The proposed merger has already been cleared by the Norwegian Competition Authority while the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority is still investigating the merger plans. The deadline for invitation from the UK regulator closed on 10 March and the deadline by when the decision whether to refer the merger for a Phase 2 investigation will be announced is set for 22 April 2022.