Seplat Energy PLC has announced a sweeping leadership transition that will install a new Chief Executive Officer in August and hand Tony Elumelu the board chairmanship at the start of next year.
Engr. Effiong Okon will assume the role of Chief Executive Officer on August 1, 2026, succeeding Mr Roger Brown, who retires from the board on July 31 after 13 years with the company. Separately, Independent Chairman Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, CON, will step down at the end of December 2026, with Mr. Tony O. Elumelu, CFR, elected to succeed him as Board Chairman from January 1, 2027.
Seplat said the succession is designed to maintain continuity in corporate governance and strategy while positioning the company for its next phase of growth.
Okon brings over 35 years of energy sector experience to the role, having previously served as Seplat's Operations Director and New Energy Director. Most recently, he was Managing Director of the ANOH Gas Processing Company, where he led project execution through to first gas delivery in January 2026. In a statement, Okon said his immediate priority would be delivering on the company's 2030 Roadmap and maximising portfolio value.
Elumelu, who joined the Seplat board in January 2026, is the Founder and Chairman of Heirs Holdings, which holds a 20.07% equity stake in Seplat Energy. He described his upcoming transition to the chair as an opportunity to build on the foundations laid by his predecessors.
Senator Udoma, who has chaired the board since April 2024, highlighted two key milestones during his tenure: the acquisition and integration of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (MPNU) and the development of Seplat's 2030 strategic vision.
Brown's emarks the end of a tenure that reshaped Seplat's footprint in the Nigerian energy market. Key acquisitions during his time as CEO included Eland Oil and Gas in 2019 and MPNU in 2024. "I am proud of what we have built together and confident that Seplat is well-positioned for continued growth and long-term value creation," he said.
The announcements were made in an official release by Seplat Energy PLC.