---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001654954-26-006153"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "RES"
cik: "0000742278"
company_name: "RPC INC"
filed_at: "2026-06-23T20:31:46+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-23T20:33:10.754672+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.7
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.7
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# RPC CEO Ben M. Palmer to retire by end of 2026; board launches external search

## Summary
- Ben M. Palmer notified his retirement as Director, President & CEO, effective upon successor naming or Dec. 31, 2026.
- Palmer served as CEO since 2022 and as CFO/Treasurer for over two decades; total 30 years with RPC.
- Board will engage a leading independent executive search firm; expects to name successor before end of 2026.
- Palmer will remain in an advisory capacity after retirement to support transition; terms not yet determined.
- RPC (NYSE: RES) is a diversified oilfield services company; executive chairman Richard A. Hubbell thanked Palmer.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001654954-26-006153
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: RES
- cik: 0000742278
- company_name: RPC INC
- filed_at: 2026-06-23T20:31:46+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.7
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.7
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 7.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/742278/000165495426006153/0001654954-26-006153-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/742278/000165495426006153/res_8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001654954-26-006153
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001654954-26-006153.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001654954-26-006153.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Ben M. Palmer retired as President and Chief Executive Officer at RPC INC.
  - Action: retired
  - Role: President and Chief Executive Officer
  source text: On June 16, 2026, Ben M. Palmer, Director, President, and Chief Executive Officer of RPC, Inc. (the “Company”), notified the Company of his decision to retire as Director, President, and Chief Executive Officer, effective on the earlier of a successor being named or December 31, 2026, after which he will remain in an advisory capacity to support the transition of leadership.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/742278/000165495426006153/0001654954-26-006153-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.