IADC names Stephen A. Colville President, succeeding 28-year vet Dr Lee Hunt

Houston, 21 February, 2012 – The International Association of Drilling Contractors announces the appointment of Stephen A. Colville to the position of President. This follows the retirement of Dr. Lee Hunt, who has held that office for the past 22 years. Mr Colville assumes his new position on 1 March.

Stephen Colville

“It has been a privilege, and a pleasure, to be afforded the opportunity to serve this great industry,” Dr. Hunt remarked. “Many friendships, fond memories and shared experiences have made the last quarter century the absolute best career anyone could imagine.”

Mr Colville brings to IADC more than 30 years’ experience in corporate public affairs and government relations, with extensive on-the-ground experience in North and South America, Europe, South Africa, Middle East, Eurasia and Asia Pacific.

“I am honored and delighted to be handed the baton of responsibility for driving the future development of the IADC towards enabling our members to meet the growing challenges facing the drilling industry,” Mr Colville said.

Mr Colville previously served as Vice President-Communications for Royal Dutch Shell – Projects & Technology Business, a position he held since August 2009. He moved to that position after serving as Vice President-Communications – Global Gas Business for Royal Dutch Shell, and had joined the company in December 2006 in that position.

Prior to Shell, Mr Colville served in various management-level policy, government and public affairs positions for Chevron, which he joined in 1997.

His earlier background includes seven years as an industry advocate, working in London and Brussels since 1990 to implement public and government-affairs campaigns. Mr Colville began his career in the UK Department of Trade and Industry in 1979, working in key policy divisions on trade regulations, competition regulation and project management.

He is a member of the International Association of Business Communicators, and enjoys coaching rugby, sailing and skiing.

About IADC

IADC is dedicated to enhancing the interests of oil-and-gas and geothermal drilling contractors worldwide. IADC’s contract-drilling members own most of the world’s land and offshore drilling units and drill the vast majority of the wells that produce the planet’s oil and gas. IADC’s membership also includes oil-and-gas producers, and manufacturers and suppliers of oilfield equipment and services. Founded in 1940, IADC’s mission is to improve industry health, safety and environmental practices; advance drilling and completion technology; and champion responsible standards, practices, legislation and regulations that provide for safe, efficient and environmentally sound drilling operations worldwide. IADC holds Accredited Observer status at the International Maritime Organization and the International Seabed Authority, specialized agencies of the United Nations. The Association is a leader in developing standards for industry training, notably its Well Control Accreditation Program (WellCAP)® and rig-floor orientation program, RIG PASS®. IADC is headquartered in Houston and has offices in Washington D.C., the Netherlands, Thailand, and the United Arab Emirates, as well as chapters in the UK, Venezuela, Brazil, Australasia, South Central Asia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and across the United States. For more information, visit the IADC website at www.iadc.org.