Seplat Energy has announced the retirement of its Chief Executive Officer, Roger Brown, bringing to a close a leadership tenure marked by both significant corporate growth and high-profile controversy.
Brown, a British national, will retire as CEO and step down from the board on July 31, 2026, after 13 years with the company, including six years as chief executive, the company announced today.
His departure comes more than three years after the Nigerian government revoked his visa, residence permit, and work permit over allegations of racism and discrimination against Nigerian employees.
In March 2023, the Nigerian government barred Brown from Nigeria following complaints from aggrieved stakeholders. Seplat strongly denied the allegations, and the company’s board unanimously passed a vote of confidence in him, insisting he continued to discharge his duties from the company’s UK office.
Despite the controversy, Brown remained a central figure in Seplat’s growth story. Under his leadership, the company completed major acquisitions, including Eland Oil and Gas in 2019 and the transformational acquisition of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (MPNU) in 2024.
Announcing the succession plan on Tuesday, Seplat’s Board said Brown leaves behind a company strengthened by financial discipline, strategic expansion, and a robust pipeline of growth projects.
The company has appointed Effiong Okon as its next Chief Executive Officer, effective August 1, 2026. Okon, who has more than 35 years of experience in the global energy industry, currently serves as Managing Director of the ANOH Gas Processing Company. He previously served on Seplat’s board as Operations Director and held senior leadership positions at Shell across Africa, Europe, the United States, and the Middle East.
Seplat also announced that its Chairman, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, will retire on December 31, 2026, and has elected billionaire Tony Elumelu as the next Chairman, effective January 1, 2027.
Elumelu, founder and chairman of Heirs Holdings, joined Seplat’s board in January 2026. His investment group holds a 20.07 per cent stake in the company.
Commenting on Brown’s retirement, Udoma praised his role in transforming Seplat into a leading African energy company, citing the successful MPNU acquisition and strong shareholder returns achieved during his tenure.
Brown described his time at Seplat as “the greatest pleasure,” saying he was proud of helping build a company known for financial resilience, strong corporate governance, and long-term value creation.
