Andrew Gould

Andrew Gould
Name	Andrew Gould
Birth date	1950s
Nationality	British
Alma mater	Imperial College London
Occupation	Businessman
Known for	Former CEO of Schlumberger

Andrew Gould

Andrew Gould is a British businessman and executive notable for leading multinational energy and technology enterprises. He gained prominence as chief executive officer at Schlumberger during a period of expansion and strategic realignment, and later for governance roles across global companies and financial institutions. His career spans leadership in oilfield services, participation on corporate boards, and involvement with academic and charitable organizations.

Early life and education

Gould was born in the United Kingdom and pursued an engineering education at Imperial College London, where he completed undergraduate and postgraduate studies in fields aligned with petroleum engineering and applied sciences. His academic formation included coursework and research that connected him to professional networks at Institute of Petroleum, Royal Society, and industry scholarship programs tied to oil companies such as BP and Shell plc. Early affiliations from this period facilitated entry into engineering roles at major industrial firms operating in regions like the North Sea and the Middle East.

Career

Gould began his professional career in technical and managerial positions within oilfield services and engineering firms connected to exploration and production activities in hydrocarbon basins. He worked on projects involving drilling technology, reservoir characterization, and production optimization in collaboration with operators including ExxonMobil, Chevron, and national oil companies such as Saudi Aramco and PetroChina. Progressing through operations, engineering, and commercial leadership, he moved into executive management and global business development roles that interfaced with commodity markets, capital investment decisions, and technology partnerships with firms like Halliburton and Baker Hughes.

Throughout his career he engaged with industry associations and trade bodies including the Society of Petroleum Engineers and participated in international forums such as assemblies convened by the International Energy Agency and the World Economic Forum. These roles expanded his exposure to policy, geopolitics of energy, and corporate strategy in contexts involving the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and sovereign wealth funds including Abu Dhabi Investment Authority.

Tenure at Schlumberger

Gould joined Schlumberger in senior operational and commercial positions before being appointed chief executive officer. As CEO he oversaw product and service lines spanning wireline, logging, directional drilling, and formation evaluation, while steering mergers, divestitures, and research collaboration with institutions like Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Stanford University. His tenure addressed cyclical commodity pressures influenced by events such as the 2008 financial crisis and the subsequent impact on capital expenditure in oil and gas upstream activity.

Under his leadership, the company expanded in regions including the Gulf of Mexico, West Africa, and Kazakhstan, and pursued strategic investments in digital technologies, data analytics, and automation that aligned with initiatives led by technology firms such as Microsoft and IBM. Gould emphasized operational efficiency, safety standards consistent with guidance from American Petroleum Institute specifications, and compliance with reporting frameworks favored by investors including BlackRock and Vanguard. His stewardship involved interactions with national regulators and stakeholders in jurisdictions governed by laws like the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and reporting to shareholders at annual general meetings.

Later career and board memberships

After stepping down from executive day-to-day management, Gould transitioned to non-executive directorships and advisory roles across sectors including energy, commodities, and financial services. He served on boards of multinational corporations and financial institutions, collaborating with governance bodies such as the London Stock Exchange Group and the board committees modeled on practices from Institute of Directors (United Kingdom). His board work included oversight responsibilities in audit, risk, and remuneration committees, alongside engagement with institutional investors and proxy advisory firms like Glass Lewis and Institutional Shareholder Services.

Gould also took part in strategic advisory roles with private equity firms and asset managers that invest in infrastructure and energy transition projects, interfacing with entities such as The Carlyle Group, KKR, and sovereign investors like the Qatar Investment Authority. He engaged with academic governance through trusteeships at universities and research centers, cooperating with establishments such as Imperial College Business School and think tanks focused on energy policy and innovation including the Chatham House energy program.

Personal life and philanthropy

Gould maintains residences in the United Kingdom and has personal connections to regions central to his career, including Europe and the Middle East. Philanthropic interests reflect support for educational initiatives, scholarships, and institutions promoting engineering and scientific research, with donations and trustee roles linked to organizations such as Imperial College London scholarship funds and technical charities that nurture talent in fields represented by the Royal Academy of Engineering. He has supported cultural and community projects alongside philanthropic peers and foundations that operate in the United Kingdom and internationally.

Category:British chief executives Category:Alumni of Imperial College London