“Follow your passion in whatever you do” - Rolls Royce CEO Tufan Erginbilgiç on receiving an Honorary Degree from the University of Surrey

As well as a recognition of a distinguished global career, it was a family moment. Tufan is the second member of his family to graduate from Surrey. His son completed a degree in Mechanical Engineering, an experience that first drew him into the life of the University and eventually onto its Strategic Advisory Board. He is a leader whose decisions have helped shape some of the world’s most significant industrial organisations, and whose story offers powerful lessons for new graduates.

“I am very honoured to be recognised in this way by the University and was very pleasantly surprised when I was told,” he reflects. “I really got interested in the work being done here when my son came to Surrey to study Mechanical Engineering and thoroughly enjoyed it.  

“Almost ten years ago, I was asked to join the Strategic Advisory Board and it’s been a privilege to help the University go from strength to strength since then. You see first‑hand the ambition here, the focus on innovation, on industry partnerships, and on giving students the skills and experiences they need to succeed.” 

From engineering and economics student to global industry leader 

Tufan’s career spans more than three decades at the forefront of the energy and engineering sectors. Before joining Rolls‑Royce, he spent over 20 years at BP, rising to become Chief Executive of the company’s downstream business. There, he led major strategic change through periods of strong global competition, driving record performance and growth. 

At Rolls‑Royce, the iconic British engineering company whose engines power aircraft, ships and energy systems across the globe, Tufan has overseen a dramatic turnaround. Under his leadership, the business has shifted from a period of intense pressure to one that is high‑performing, competitive and resilient. Profits have more than doubled and the company is now widely cited as a leading example of bold, successful corporate transformation. 

Behind that journey lies an academic foundation that combines rigorous technical training with economics and management, a blend that mirrors Surrey’s own emphasis on pairing strong disciplinary knowledge with real‑world insight. 

The foundations of success: belief and curiosity 

Looking back to his own student days, Tufan is clear about the habits that have mattered most.

“I believe two things are vital to success,” he explains. “The first is the power of belief. When you really believe in what you are doing, you can do great things. People need to bring both their head and their heart to work. Logic and intellect will get you a seat at the table, but passion is what wins the game. It forces you to stretch yourself and make things happen.” 

The second, he says, is staying curious. “Anyone who wants a career that grows and evolves and has real meaning must always be learning.” 

That combination of purpose and desire to learn has guided him through a career that hasn’t always followed a straight line. 

Embracing sideways steps 

Like many graduates, Tufan’s first career move was driven by practical necessity rather than a grand plan. 

“Like many people leaving university, my career started from the need to earn some money!” he recalls. “I was doing a PhD in the US and also teaching economics to undergraduates, and an opportunity came along to work for an oil business. I thought I’d return to the PhD at some point. I didn’t.” 

Decades later, receiving an Honorary Doctorate at Surrey feels, he says, like “completing the circle” of an academic journey he once assumed he’d left behind. 

Along the way, he made choices that, on paper, didn’t always look like promotions. 

“My progression hasn’t always been linear and I have made some choices that might have looked like a backwards or sideways step,” he says. One of those was becoming Chief of Staff to the CEO at BP. 

“It gave me a deep understanding of how an organisation operates, how decisions are made and how leadership really works. So, when I did join the Executive Committee, I was ten times more effective because I had taken that ‘sideways’ step.” 

For graduates who feel pressure to map out a perfect, linear career, his message is reassuring: valuable experience often comes from unexpected directions. 

Thriving in an AI‑shaped future 

Today’s Surrey graduates are entering industries transformed by artificial intelligence, complex software and advanced electronics – trends that are reshaping Rolls‑Royce and the wider engineering sector. 

“The world is changing rapidly in so many ways, whether that’s technologically or socially, and I believe the most valuable people in any organisation are the ones who are always learning,” Tufan says. 

“AI is obviously going to have a significant impact on many areas of business. It’s making some of the processes we have in Rolls‑Royce run faster and better. The key is to embrace it, learn how to use it. The people who will thrive in the future are the ones who actively seek new challenges and new skills.” 

For him, technology is only part of the story. Attitude (particularly resilience), adaptability and a long‑term mindset is just as critical. 

Why a growth mindset and real‑world experience matters 

Tufan is widely recognised for investing in people and developing talent, a focus that aligns closely with Surrey’s emphasis on professional training and industry placements. 

“It’s the open, or growth, mindset that is so important in the world of work today,” he says. “It’s about people asking ‘how can we do better’, ‘how can we improve on what’s gone before’, ‘can we do things differently’? That spirit of challenging the status quo is really important when you are starting out in a new organisation.” 

One piece of honest advice 

Asked for a single piece of practical advice for a Surrey graduate who is unsure about their next step, Tufandoesn’t hesitate. 

“Follow your passion in whatever you do,” he says. “You make real progress and have a real impact when you bring your whole self into what you do. I talk about going in with both feet, really committing and not hesitating. Nothing ever got done by hesitating.” 

It is a philosophy that’s taken him from an engineering and economics student to the helm of one of the world’s most renowned engineering companies, and now, back to a university campus where a new generation is preparing to shape the future. 

As Surrey celebrates Tufan Erginbilgiç with an Honorary Doctorate, his message to those graduates is clear: believe deeply in what you do, stay curious, embrace the unexpected, and commit.