As of July 1, 2026, Wilko de Jong will take on the role of Chief Operating Officer (COO). This marks an important step in Heerema’s succession planning, ensuring continuity in leadership and a smooth transition within the Projects and Operations domain.
Wilko steps into the role after serving as Deputy-COO since January 1, 2026, working closely with COO Michel Hendriks. Over the past six months, they have worked side by side to ensure a strong handover and alignment on priorities.
Until December 31, 2026, Michel will remain a member of the Executive Board in the role of Deputy-COO, continuing to transfer his knowledge.
Wilko joined Heerema in 2004 as a Junior Engineer and has built a career across projects, operations and leadership roles. He started in engineering roles on offshore projects in the Gulf of Mexico/Gulf of America and Angola, before moving into project management in Australia. He later led a major project in Brazil and supported the development of a large wind farm in Taiwan. During these last two assignments, he was expatriated with his family to Houston and later Taipei.
In recent years, Wilko has focused on improving efficiency across our fleet, operations and equipment, strengthening performance and collaboration across the various disciplines.