GC Rieber boss quits to take permanent role at Shearwater

CEO at the Norwegian shipping company GC Rieber Shipping, Irene Waage Basili, has resigned her position to take the one as permanent CEO of Shearwater GeoServices. 

Shearwater, a new seismic player jointly owned by GC Rieber Shipping and Rasmussengruppen, was established last October. Once formed, the new company took over four GC Rieber’s seismic vessels: Polar Empress, Polar Duke, Polar Duchess, and Polar Marquis.

It was then decided in November that GC Rieber chief executive Waage Basili would temporarily leave that position to perform the role of an interim CEO at Shearwater, in anticipation of a permanent CEO of Shearwater GeoServices.

According to a statement on Monday, the board of Shearwater GeoServices has offered Irene Waage Basili to take on the position as CEO of Shearwater on permanent basis. She has accepted the offer and will thus resign the position as CEO of GC Rieber Shipping on April 1, 2017.

Paul Christian Rieber, Chairman of GC Rieber Shipping, said: “The Board of GC Rieber Shipping would like to thank Irene Waage Basili for solid contributions during her six years at the helm of GC Rieber Shipping. We wish her good luck with new responsibilities and we are very pleased that she will continue to work in Shearwater and thus will still be in close contact with GC Rieber Shipping.”

GC Rieber Shipping said it will initiate a process to recruit a new permanent CEO. Meanwhile, Einar Ytredal will continue to serve the role as acting CEO while Øystein Kvåle will remain acting CFO.

Basili has been the CEO of Arrow Seismic, Vice President in Petroleum Geo-Services and from 2010 to November 2016, CEO in GC Rieber Shipping. Prior to that she worked 10 years for the Wilh. Wilhelmsen group in various commercial and operational roles.

Irene Waage Basili said: “These are exciting times for Shearwater. We have secured strategic contracts with key clients from the start – in a very competitive market – forming a strong basis for our business going forward. Although we expect a challenging market still some time ahead, I believe the timing and the relative positioning for Shearwater is quite unique. I look forward to continue building the footprint of what is now the most cost-efficient company in the industry.”

Offshore Energy Today Staff