Offshore services firm Subsea7 S.A. confirmed Wednesday that Stuart Fitzgerald has taken over as chief executive officer, effective July 1, succeeding John Evans, who retired from the role after four decades with the company.
Fitzgerald joined Subsea7 in 1998 and has held a number of senior leadership roles across the organization, including EVP commercial and EVP ctrategy and alliances. He served as CEO of Seaway7, part of the Subsea7 group, starting in 2022.
"It is a pleasure and a privilege to lead Subsea7 at such an exciting time. What defines us and makes us who we are, is our people, our teams, and our values. Together, through our culture of collaboration, positive energy, and professionalism, our focus is on delivering projects safely, and predictably, for our clients," Fitzgerald said in a statement.
The leadership change was first announced March 3, when Subsea7 said Evans would retire from the CEO position on June 30, with Fitzgerald taking over the following day. The board proposed that Evans be appointed as a director of the company at the annual general meeting held May 12.
Evans worked for Subsea7 and its predecessor companies for 40 years, serving as COO for 14 years before becoming CEO in 2020.
Fitzgerald has also been proposed as CEO of Subsea7 within the future Saipem7 entity, pending completion of the company's proposed merger with Saipem.
Subsea7 Chairman Kristian Siem said in the March announcement: "The board would like to thank John for his strong leadership and valuable contribution to the company as CEO - he has shown true commitment and passion for the business over the last 40 years. Stuart has made significant contributions over the course of his career with Subsea7 in both operational and strategic roles, and, in recent years, he has led the turnaround of the Seaway7 business. Stuart has the full support of the board of Subsea7 as he continues his journey in this new role. I am confident that, under his leadership, Subsea7 will continue to thrive, both in the near term and as we navigate the merger with Saipem."
