Dolphin Drilling AS CEO Bjørnar Iversen has resigned, effective Jan. 29, after six years with the company.
Chief Strategy Officer Jon Oliver Bryce has been appointed interim CEO. He has more than 30 years of experience in the drilling industry, with previous senior-level and leadership positions at Awilco Drilling and Odfjell Drilling.
Bryce holds a degree in mechanical engineering and is on the supervisory board of the UK Chamber of Shipping and is also the chair of the British Rig Owners Association.
Iversen took to his LinkedIn Jan. 29 to post: "The chapter titled Dolphin Drilling is now over for me after six years. I have agreed with the board that the very competent Jon Oliver Bryce, whom I recruited to Dolphin a year ago, will now take over as CEO. The time has come for me to move on to the next challenge. It has been a true pleasure working with such fantastic people at Dolphin Drilling.
"Six tough years with challenges for drilling in general, but fortunately no serious personal injuries or incidents during these years. In 2024, however, we have achieved a lot. We have gone through a demanding Nigeria exit, started operations in India for Blackford Dolphin, and acquired and taken over Paul B Loyd Jr. We have extended the contract with PBL for Harbour Energy Ltd., and Borgland Dolphin won a contract with Enquest, which was canceled, but a larger termination fee of 230 million NOK was paid to us. Borgland Dolphin is now ready in Las Palmas, almost fully classified, marketed and positioned for the next contract in an improving market.
"Before Christmas, we won the arbitration case against General Hydrocarbons Ltd (GHL) with legal costs and were awarded 1.2 billion NOK in compensation, and the counterclaim that hung over the company like a dark cloud is now completely gone. The company has hired over 230 people in 2024, and on November 11, 2024, with Blackford Dolphin on contract, the company has, for the first time in a long time, a long-term and solid positive cash flow."
Iversen previously served as CEO with Songa Offshore SE (June 2013 to February 2018) as well as Odfjell Galvao (May 2012 to June 2013) prior to his role with Dolphin Drilling.
