Former SLB executive and subsea specialist Henning Berg has been appointed as the new chief executive officer of French seismic company Viridien, succeeding Sophie Zurquiyah. This leadership change follows the board's earlier decision to temporarily limit Zurquiyah's combined role as chairperson and CEO. Zurquiyah will retain her position as chairperson to ensure strategic continuity and guide the company's long-term vision.

Transition Plan

To facilitate a structured and gradual transition, Berg will join Viridien as chief operating officer on March 3, 2026. He will assume the CEO role three months later, at which point Zurquiyah will transition to a non-executive chairperson role. The company emphasized that this approach maintains stability and strategic direction.

Market Reaction and Board Statements

Following the announcement, Viridien's stock price declined by more than 6.22% to €107.10 in early afternoon trading on the Paris stock exchange. The board expressed sincere appreciation for Zurquiyah's leadership, noting she achieved a profound and resilient transformation that positions Viridien well for the future. Both Zurquiyah and Berg expressed confidence in the transition, with Berg committing to drive sustainable growth.

Berg's Professional Background

Berg brings extensive industry experience, having spent 27 years at SLB before departing in January of this year to establish a consultancy involved in the Subsea7 and Saipem merger. His career includes:

• Subsea sector roles at SLB from 2011 to 2025, culminating as director of integration at the OneSubsea joint venture between SLB, Aker Solutions, and Subsea7
• CEO of Subsea Integration Alliance (comprising SLB and Subsea7) from 2016 to 2020
• Earlier experience in SLB's wireline and Western Geco seismic businesses before specializing in subsea

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