MSRC CEO set to retire

The president and CEO of Marine Spill Response Corp. (MSRC), Steven T. Benz, will retire on 30 April 2017. 

Benz joined MSRC as CEO in 1996 after an extensive career working for a major oil company. During his tenure, notable achievements at MSRC have included: 

• Expanding MSRC’s footprint in oil spill response services through several mergers and acquisitions.
• Leading MSRC in its response to major environmental events, including large-scale responses on hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and the Gulf of Mexico “Deepwater Horizon” incident.
• Overseeing the enhancement of spill response capability with major additions to MSRC’s toolkit such as aerial dispersants, advanced technology skimming and other response systems, emergency telecommunication services, and MSRC’s current state-of-the-art oil spill surveillance and remote sensing technology.

“My 20 years as chief executive with MSRC has been filled with pride and satisfaction because of the opportunity to work with and lead MSRC’s outstanding employees,” Benz said. “Over such a long period there are always the challenges of oil price cycles, regulatory activity, customer changes and, of course, emergency response. Throughout it all, MSRC, and most especially its employees, has consistently achieved and sustained the reputation for passionate customer service in a safe, efficient manner and demonstrated performance at a time of crisis.   It has been a privilege to work with such a dedicated group.” 

The MSRC board of directors has launched a search for Benz’s successor. 

“We have engaged the services of Russell Reynolds Associates, a leading executive search and assessment firm, to assist us in that process as we consider both external and internal candidates for the position,” said Tim Plummer, chair of the MSRC board of directors. “Our plan is to select [Benz’s] successor by the beginning of next year.”

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