Noble Corp. Plc named a new CEO on Feb. 19 as Julie J. Robertson takes on a new role as part of a leadership transition plan laid out by the London-based offshore driller.

Julie J. Robertson
Julie J. Robertson

After resigning from her current post of president and CEO at the close of the company’s next annual shareholder meeting, Robertson, who has worked for Noble and its predecessors since 1979, will assume the newly created role of executive chairman. Robert W. Eifler, currently senior vice president of commercial at Noble, has been named to succeed Robertson as president and CEO.

“The board and I are confident that now is the right time to transition leadership responsibilities to the next generation of talent,” Robertson said in a statement adding: “I have worked with Robert for 15 years and am confident that he possesses the leadership qualities, institutional knowledge, financial acumen and customer relationships to lead Noble forward.”

Eifler joined Noble in 2005 as part of the company’s management development program working offshore and since has held numerous operational and marketing roles with increasing responsibility around the world. He was appointed to his current role as Noble’s senior vice president of commercial in August 2019.

Robertson had been named chairman, president and CEO in early 2018 following the retirement of David W. Williams. She was also recently acknowledged as one of Oil and Gas Investor’s “25 Influential Women in Energy.”

The board thanked Robertson for her decades of leadership at Noble. In a statement, lead independent director and chair of the nominating and governance committee, Julie H. Edwards, called Robertson instrumental in helping Noble maintain its position as a global industry leader.

“On behalf of the board, I would like to thank Julie for her more than 40 years of leadership, as well as her significant contributions and tireless commitment to our company, customers and employees, especially during these past two years as CEO,” Edwards said.


 

Noble also reported fourth-quarter results on Feb. 19 that analysts from Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. described as encouraging across multiple fronts.

The company posted an adjusted EBITDA of about $83 million for the fourth quarter, coming in well above the Street’s estimated $58 million. OPEX for the quarter was also better than expected at $181 million vs. the $182 million to $188 million guidance range.

“Still challenges ahead, but job (very) well done over past few months,” TPH analysts wrote in a Feb. 20 research note.