Adamson to take over as Transocean CEO in Q2 2025
Transocean announced its plan for key leadership changes pursuant to the company’s multi-year succession planning strategy. As part of this plan, Keelan Adamson, the company’s President and COO, will become President and CEO following a transition period, which is expected to conclude in Q2 2025.
Mr Adamson will succeed Jeremy Thigpen, who has led Transocean as CEO since 2015. Mr Adamson is also expected to be nominated to join the Board of Directors at the 2025 annual shareholders’ meeting.
Mr Thigpen will continue serving as CEO and 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, Mr Thigpen is expected to be appointed as Executive Chair of the Board of Directors, and Chad Deaton, Transocean’s current Chair, will transition to Lead Independent Director.
Mr Adamson has served as Transocean’s President and COO since February 2022. Prior to that time, he was Executive Vice President and COO from August 2018 to February 2022; as Senior Vice President, Operations from October 2017 to July 2018; and as Senior Vice President, Operations Integrity and HSE, from June 2015 to October 2017.
As part of his responsibilities during this period, Mr Adamson oversaw the company’s Technical Services team from May 2016 to October 2017. He also served as the company’s Vice President, Human Resources from December 2012 to May 2015, and has held other executive positions with the company, including as the Vice President overseeing Major Capital Projects and Engineering.
He joined Transocean in 1995 and has held rig management positions in the UK, Asia and Africa, sales and marketing leadership roles, and as Managing Director for the company’s business in North America, Canada and Trinidad. Mr Adamson earned a bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering from The Queens University of Belfast and completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.
