Ed Jacob is 2014 IADC Contractor of the Year
By Chris Cantu, Editorial Assistant
Ed Jacob, Director, President and Chief Operating Officer of Independence Contract Drilling, has been recognized as the 2014 IADC Contractor of the Year. “It’s an honor to receive this award, and very humbling. Thank you to the IADC, to the Board of Directors, Executive Committee and particularly the staff. This is an excellent organization, and I’m proud to be a part of it,” Mr Jacob said at the 2014 IADC Annual General Meeting in New Orleans on 14 November. IADC presents the annual award to individuals with outstanding careers who have made significant contributions to the drilling industry.
Mr Jacob began his career in the oil and gas industry in 1974 with The National Supply Co. Over the next 40 years, Mr Jacob went on to serve in multiple sales, marketing and operations management positions with Helmerich & Payne International Drilling Co, Bayard Drilling Technologies, Grey Wolf and Keen Energy Services. He joined Independence in February 2013.
In accepting the award, Mr Jacob thanked his colleagues and and his wife, Ruth. He also thanked previous winners of the award who were present at the New Orleans conference: Cary Moomjian (1996), Moe Plaisance (2003), Ray and Ann Brazzel (2004), John Rynd (2011), Gregers Kudsk (2012) and Julie Robertson (2013).
“IADC is an incredible organization,” Mr Jacob said. “You get out of it what you put into it. I promise you that none of us – not me or any of the other people I just called out – set out in our career to win this award. We set out in our career, we found a passion, we found a mentor who gave us a chance and we found an organization that we can contribute to. It has absolutely paid us back more than we put in it.”
Mr Jacob attended Southeastern Louisiana University and Nichols State University and is a 2007 graduate of the Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program. He is an IADC Director, serves on the IADC Executive Committee and was elected last week to serve as 2015 IADC Chairman.
