# Timothy S. Duncan

> Timothy S. Duncan is a Houston-based petroleum engineer and energy executive who co-founded Talos Energy in 2012 and served as its founding president and CEO until August 2024. His earlier career included Gryphon Exploration and co-founding Phoenix Exploration. During his Talos tenure, the company and its partners discovered Zama offshore Mexico and Talos became publicly traded through its 2018 Stone Energy combination. He is now executive chairman of 1947 Oil & Gas and a director of Expand Energy.

- **Role:** Executive Chairman at 1947 Oil & Gas plc
- **Organizations:** 1947 Oil & Gas plc, Expand Energy Corporation, Talos Energy, Phoenix Exploration, Gryphon Exploration, Amerada Hess, Zilkha Energy, Pennzoil E&P, National Ocean Industries Association, Mississippi State University
- **From:** New Orleans, United States
- **Education:** BS, Petroleum Engineering, Mississippi State University, MBA, Executive Program, University of Houston, C. T. Bauer College of Business
- **Known for:** Co-founded Phoenix Exploration and helped negotiate its sale to an Apache-led group in 2011., Co-founded Talos Energy and led it from its private-company beginning into a publicly traded offshore producer., Led Talos during the consortium’s 2017 Zama discovery.

## Career timeline

- **1995-2000** — Reservoir engineering and portfolio evaluation roles at Pennzoil, Zilkha Energy and Amerada Hess.
- **2000-2005** — Manager of reservoir engineering and evaluations at Gryphon Exploration; Gryphon sold to Woodside in 2005.
- **2006-2011** — Co-founded Phoenix Exploration and served as senior vice president of business development; sold to an Apache-led group in 2011.
- **2012** — Co-founded Talos Energy with private equity backing from Apollo and Riverstone.
- **2016** — Received the Gulf Coast EY Entrepreneur of the Year award in Energy & Energy Services.
- **2017** — Talos and consortium partners discovered Zama offshore Mexico.
- **2018** — Talos completed the Stone Energy combination and began NYSE trading on May 10.
- **2021** — Joined Chesapeake Energy’s board; later continued on Expand Energy’s board.
- **2021-2022** — Served as chair of the National Ocean Industries Association.
- **2024** — Talos completed the QuarterNorth acquisition and sold Low Carbon Solutions to TotalEnergies; Duncan stepped down as president and CEO effective August 29.
- **2026** — Became executive chairman of 1947 Oil & Gas; the company began AIM trading on September 28 with the Renaissance Offshore acquisition completed.

## Achievements

- Co-founded Phoenix Exploration and helped negotiate its sale to an Apache-led group in 2011.
- Co-founded Talos Energy and led it from its private-company beginning into a publicly traded offshore producer.
- Led Talos during the consortium’s 2017 Zama discovery.
- Named a Mississippi State engineering Distinguished Fellow in 2012.
- Received the 2016 Gulf Coast EY Entrepreneur of the Year award in Energy & Energy Services.
- Served as chair and vice chair of the National Ocean Industries Association.
- Recognized in Hart Energy’s 2023 Agent of Change series.

## Latest updates

- **2026-09** — 1947 Oil & Gas began AIM trading on September 28 and completed its acquisition of Renaissance Offshore; Duncan serves as executive chairman.
- **2026-07** — As 1947 executive chairman, Duncan announced the appointment of Mark Paull to strengthen corporate development.
- **2026-04** — Public coverage identified Duncan as executive chairman of newly launched 1947 Oil & Gas.
- **2024-08** — Duncan stepped down as Talos Energy president and CEO effective August 29.

## Links

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothy-s-duncan-4766b115

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/timothy-duncan
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-23