Bristow promotes Chipman Earle to SVP and Mary Wersebe To VP

Chipman “Chip” Earle has been promoted to senior vice president, chief legal and support officer at Bristow Group. This will add oversight of Bristow’s global communications, executive compensation and information technology functions to his existing responsibilities which included all legal aspects of the business, compliance and insurance.

Mary Wersebe has also been promoted to vice president of human resources. Wersebe will be responsible for leading the company’s strategy in all areas of human resources, with a focus on employee and labour relations, leadership development, non-executive compensation and benefits, and performance management, in addition to corporate social responsibility.

Earle and Wersebe will continue to serve as part of Bristow’s senior management team and will both report to Jonathan Baliff, the Bristow president and chief executive officer.

“As our head of the legal department for the past four years, Chip has been an invaluable member of our senior management team,” said Baliff. “His strategic counsel has been critical to me and our board and the expansion of his role will help us to navigate our business through the current economic environment to best position Bristow for a successful future.”

“Mary has been a valued human resources leader who has helped drive business results,” said Baliff. “She has been instrumental in her role as interim chief administration officer and we will continue to benefit from Mary’s expertise in these areas.”

Earle most recently served as Bristow’s senior vice president, chief legal officer and corporate secretary since May 2014. He previously served as Bristow’s senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary since July 2012. Prior to joining the company, Earle worked as the head of legal operations for Transocean Ltd. and previously as a corporate and securities attorney at the law firm of Baker Botts L.L.P. in Houston, Texas.

Wersebe has served as Bristow’s acting chief administrative officer since June 2016. She previously served as director human resources global operations. Prior to joining Bristow in May 2014, Wersebe was director human resources at Exterran.

With the reorganization of these functions, Bristow is eliminating the position of senior vice president and chief administrative officer.

Government affairs responsibility will consolidate under Chet Akiri, chief commercial officer and interim senior vice president global operations.