Houston, Texas. February 2nd , 2026 — HWCG today announced a planned leadership

transition that will begin on February 2, 2026, and culminate with the appointment of

Mike Cargol as Managing Director on April 1, 2026. Mr. Cargol succeeds Craig T.

Castille, who has served in the role since January 2018. During Mr. Castille’s tenure, the

organization has achieved significant advancements in sustainability, operating

systems, compliance, response preparedness, and the procurement of new and

upgraded response equipment.

The transition reflects HWCG’s continued focus on strong governance, technical

credibility, and reliable execution in support of its Members, Response Providers,

Regulators, and the broader offshore energy industry. HWCG’s mission, operating

model, and commitment to regulatory alignment remain unchanged.

Mr. Cargol brings more than 33 years of experience in global oilfield services and

subsea well control, with senior leadership roles spanning capping and containment

readiness, incident response, and multi-operator consortium operations.

He has held executive positions at Trendsetter Engineering and Wild Well Control,

where he led strategy, P&L, and operational delivery for complex subsea and source-

control systems supporting HWCG, OSRL, MWCC, and operator-owned assets across

multiple regions. His work has included directing Incident Command System (ICS)

planning, drills, and live activations, as well as serving as a primary interface with the

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) and the U.S. Coast Guard.

Joe Leimkuhler, Chairman of the Board, noted:

“This transition reflects the strength of HWCG’s governance and long-term planning.

Mike brings deep technical credibility, extensive consortium experience, and a strong

understanding of regulatory and stakeholder expectations. The Board is confident that

HWCG’s mission, operating discipline, and commitment to readiness that outgoing

Managing Director Craig Castille has established will continue seamlessly under Mike’s

leadership.”

Craig T. Castille, Outgoing Managing Director, said:

“HWCG’s strength lies in its people, governance, and shared commitment to readiness.

I am confident that Mike will continue to support that mission and maintain the

operational discipline and relationships that are central to the organization’s role in the

industry.”

In addition to his executive leadership roles, Cargol has been instrumental in the

development and governance of industry-first consortia, including the 20,000-psi

Subsea Intervention Riser System Consortium, and has supported regulatory approvals

for complex operations in harsh-environment and Arctic conditions. He is a recognized

industry contributor, author, and patent holder, and currently serves on HWCG’s

Advisory Board.

Mike Cargol, Managing Director – Designate, adds:

“HWCG plays a critical role in supporting offshore operators through collaboration,

preparedness, and disciplined execution. I look forward to building on the strong

foundation already in place and working closely with HWCG’s staff, Members,

Response Providers, Regulators, and the broader industry to maintain a high state of

readiness.”

HWCG thanks Craig Castille for his leadership and contributions to the organization and

looks forward to his continued support of Mike Cargol and the organization during and

beyond the transition period.

About HWCG

HWCG is a not-for-profit consortium established to provide a comprehensive, ready-to-

deploy subsea well containment system for offshore operators. HWCG works

collaboratively with Members, regulators, and industry partners to maintain a high state

of readiness and ensure effective response capability in the event of a subsea well

incident.

Learn about us on LinkedIn :

HWCG – linkedin.com/company/hwcg-llc

Joe Leimkuhler - https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-leimkuhler-6384304/

Craig Castille – https://www.linkedin.com/in/craig-castille-118b703b/

Mike Cargol - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-cargol-3bb07032/