Mitcham Industries announces passing of CEO

HUNTSVILLE, Texas -- Mitcham Industries, a geophysical equipment supplier, announced Monday that Billy F. Mitcham Jr., the company’s president and CEO, has passed away.

Mitcham, the original founder of the company, served as the president and CEO of the company from 1987 until his untimely and unexpected death. During his more than 35-year tenure at Texas-based Mitcham Industries, he was instrumental in building the company into the largest independent lessor of advanced seismic equipment to the global seismic industry. Messrs. Robert Capps and Guy Malden, who were recently promoted to co-COOs of the company, will become interim co-CEOs, effective immediately.

"It is with great sadness that we mourn the passing of Bill Mitcham,” Peter H. Blum, chairman of Mitcham Industries, said. “Bill was a great leader with a strong strategic vision and a wonderful and trusted friend to all who knew him. His knowledge of the seismic industry was second to none, and he was universally respected both within our company and in our industry. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Mitcham family."