John Lindsay

President, Chief Executive Officer & Director, Helmerich Payne

Search every verified John Lindsay interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. John Lindsay, President and CEO of Helmerich & Payne, discussed his career trajectory from a roughneck to the company's top executive in a 2022 interview. He described starting as a floor hand and working up to driller, calling that period "the most valuable time" he could have spent early in his career. Lindsay noted that he initially earned a computer science degree before returning to the University of Tulsa for a degree in petroleum engineering, graduating in 1986 when the rig count was between 600 and 800, down from 4,200 in 1981. He emphasized the cyclical nature of the oil and gas industry and the importance of hard work and work-life balance. Lindsay spoke about the value of relationships and teamwork at Helmerich & Payne, stating that people look out for each other even without formal mentorship. He recalled a meeting with the late Walt Helmerich III that focused on family rather than business, and said he tells employees that the company should feel like a family atmosphere. Lindsay stressed that decisions are made in support of the overall strategy and team, not for individual benefit.