BOURBON announces the appointment of Olivier Blaringhem as CEO
BOURBON today announced the appointment of Olivier Blaringhem, as Chief Executive Officer, effective September 14, 2026. He is succeeding Gaël Bodénès, who held this position since 2017.
Olivier Blaringhem has more than 25 years of international experience in maritime services, engineering, and major offshore projects. He has spent most of his career at Subsea7, where he held several executive positions in Northern Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Since January 2020, he has served as Executive Vice President of Subsea and Conventional at Subsea7. He is a graduate of the École Spéciale des Travaux Publics in Paris. This appointment marks a new phase in BOURBON’s development. In his new role, Olivier Blaringhem will be tasked with continuing to strengthen operational performance, consolidating the group’s commercial positions, and supporting BOURBON in its next stages of development. BOURBON recently announced a significant expansion of its fleet with the addition of 13 new offshore support vessels since the beginning of 2026, representing a value of over USD 180 million.
Bruno Chabas, Chairman of the Board, stated: “BOURBON enters this next chapter in a strong position. The Group holds market-leading positions in West Africa and the Guyana basin – some of the world’s most attractive offshore growth regions – with long-standing relationships with the leading operators driving the global deepwater markets. We have completed a material financial restructuring providing the foundation to build on the company’s strengths while becoming a leaner and more capital-disciplined operator. Olivier’s international experience and profound knowledge of offshore services will be decisive assets as we grow our business and capture the significant opportunities ahead.”
Olivier Blaringhem added: “I am delighted to join BOURBON at such a compelling moment. The Group has an exceptional platform: a market-leading fleet operating in the most active offshore basins, deep-rooted client relationships with the world’s leading offshore energy players, and a clear strategic roadmap in the context of a robust market. My priority will be to build on the strong foundations already in place – accelerating operational performance, deepening our commercial relationships and capturing the growth opportunities in our core markets. I look forward to working with the teams to write the next chapter for the Group.”
Mr. Chabas added: “The Board also wishes to express its deep gratitude to Gaël Bodénès for his exceptional commitment over more than twenty years and the pivotal role he has played in steering the Group through its transformation.”
