<HTML>
<HEAD>
     <TITLE></TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">

<P STYLE="margin: 0"></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>UNITED STATES</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>Washington, D.C. 20549</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>FORM 8-K</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">CURRENT REPORT</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">DATE OF REPORT (Date of earliest event reported):
July 25, 2012</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: bold 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 14pt; text-underline-style: none">Rowan
Companies plc</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">(Exact name of registrant as specified in
its charter)</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; border-collapse: collapse">
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 32%; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; text-align: center">England and Wales</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 2%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font-weight: bold; text-align: center">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 32%; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font-weight: bold; text-align: center">1-5491</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 2%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font-weight: bold; text-align: center">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 32%; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font-weight: bold; text-align: center">98-1023315</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)</P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P></TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font-weight: bold; text-align: center">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center">(Commission <BR> File Number)</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font-weight: bold; text-align: center">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center">(IRS Employer <BR> Identification No.)</TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; border-collapse: collapse">
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 100%; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>2800 Post Oak Boulevard</B></P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>Suite 5450</B></P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>Houston, Texas</B></P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>77056-6189</B></P></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center">&nbsp;(Address of Principal Executive Offices and Zip Code)</TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">Registrant&rsquo;s telephone number, including
area code: <B>+1 713 621 7800</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>Not Applicable</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">(Former name or former address, if changed
since last report)</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended
to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">&#168;</FONT> Written
communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">&#168;</FONT>
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">&#168;</FONT>
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">&#168;</FONT>
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"></P>

<!-- Field: Page; Sequence: 1 -->
    <DIV STYLE="margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid"><TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; font-size: 10pt"><TR><TD STYLE="text-align: center; width: 100%">&nbsp;</TD></TR></TABLE></DIV>
    <DIV STYLE="page-break-before: always; margin-top: 6pt; margin-bottom: 12pt"><TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="width: 100%"><TR><TD STYLE="text-align: left; width: 50%">&nbsp;</TD><TD STYLE="text-align: right; width: 50%"></TD></TR></TABLE></DIV>
    <!-- Field: /Page -->
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify"><B>Item 8.01 Other Events.</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; background-color: white">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; background-color: white">On July 25, 2012, the Board of Directors
of Rowan Companies plc (the &ldquo;Company&rdquo;) appointed Kevin Bartol as Executive Vice President, Finance and Corporate Development,
effective immediately. For additional details, please see the press release attached as Exhibit 99.1, which is incorporated herein
by reference. In addition, Mr. Bartol&rsquo;s annual base salary was increased from $375,000 to $400,000. Mr. Bartol&rsquo;s short
term and long term incentive targets remain the same.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; background-color: white">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; background-color: white"><B>Item 9.01 Financial
Statements and Exhibits</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; background-color: white">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; background-color: white">(c) Exhibits</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; background-color: white">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse">
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom; background-color: white">
    <TD STYLE="width: 27%; border-bottom: black 1.5pt solid">
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">Exhibit</P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">Number</P></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 9%; padding-bottom: 1.5pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 64%; border-bottom: black 1.5pt solid; text-align: center">Exhibit Description</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top; background-color: white">
    <TD STYLE="text-align: center">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top; background-color: white">
    <TD STYLE="text-align: center">99.1</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Press release dated July 31, 2012</TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; background-color: white">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; background-color: white"></P>

<!-- Field: Page; Sequence: 2; Options: NewSection; Value: 2 -->
    <DIV STYLE="margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid"><TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; font-size: 10pt"><TR><TD STYLE="text-align: center; width: 100%"><!-- Field: Sequence; Type: Arabic; Name: PageNo -->2<!-- Field: /Sequence --></TD></TR></TABLE></DIV>
    <DIV STYLE="page-break-before: always; margin-top: 6pt; margin-bottom: 12pt"><TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="width: 100%"><TR><TD STYLE="text-align: center; width: 100%">&nbsp;</TD></TR></TABLE></DIV>
    <!-- Field: /Page -->
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; background-color: white">&nbsp;&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B><U>SIGNATURE</U></B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">Dated: July 31, 2012</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"></P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse">
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="2" STYLE="font-size: 10pt"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">ROWAN COMPANIES PLC</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font-weight: bold; width: 50%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font-weight: bold; width: 4%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font-weight: bold; width: 46%">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font-weight: bold">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font-weight: bold">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font-weight: bold">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font-weight: bold">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font-weight: bold">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font-weight: bold">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font-size: 10pt">By:</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: underline">/s/ Melanie M. Trent&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font-size: 10pt">Melanie M. Trent</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font-size: 10pt">Senior Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer and Company Secretary</TD></TR>
</TABLE>


<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"></P>

<!-- Field: Page; Sequence: 3; Options: Last -->
    <DIV STYLE="margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid"><TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; font-size: 10pt"><TR><TD STYLE="text-align: center; width: 100%"><!-- Field: Sequence; Type: Arabic; Name: PageNo -->3<!-- Field: /Sequence --></TD></TR></TABLE></DIV>
    <!-- Field: /Page -->
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"></P>

</BODY>
</HTML>
[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "v319949_8k.htm", "description": "FORM 8-K", "secsgml_size_bytes": 14715}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "ROWAN COMPANIES PLC", "cik": "0000085408", "assigned-sic": "1381", "irs-number": "981023315", "state-of-incorporation": "X0", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-05491", "film-number": "12997598"}, "business-address": {"street1": "MITRE HOUSE 160", "street2": "ALDERSGATE STREET", "city": "LONDON", "state": "X0", "zip": "EC1A 4DD", "phone": "7139607640"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "MITRE HOUSE 160", "street2": "ALDERSGATE STREET", "city": "LONDON", "state": "X0", "zip": "EC1A 4DD"}, "former-company": [{"former-conformed-name": "ROWAN COMPANIES INC", "date-changed": "19920703"}, {"former-conformed-name": "ROWAN DRILLING CO INC", "date-changed": "19711110"}, {"former-conformed-name": "ROWAN DRILLING CO", "date-changed": "19671112"}]}
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
DATE OF REPORT (Date of earliest event reported):
July 25, 2012
Rowan
Companies plc
(Exact name of registrant as specified in
its charter)
England and Wales
1-5491
98-1023315
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
(Commission
File Number)
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)
2800 Post Oak Boulevard
Suite 5450
Houston, Texas
77056-6189
(Address of Principal Executive Offices and Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including
area code:
+1 713 621 7800
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed
since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended
to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
¨
Written
communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
¨
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
¨
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
¨
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 8.01 Other Events.
On July 25, 2012, the Board of Directors
of Rowan Companies plc (the "Company") appointed Kevin Bartol as Executive Vice President, Finance and Corporate Development,
effective immediately. For additional details, please see the press release attached as Exhibit 99.1, which is incorporated herein
by reference. In addition, Mr. Bartol's annual base salary was increased from $375,000 to $400,000. Mr. Bartol's short
term and long term incentive targets remain the same.
Item 9.01 Financial
Statements and Exhibits
(c) Exhibits
Exhibit
Number
Exhibit Description
99.1
Press release dated July 31, 2012
2
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Dated: July 31, 2012
ROWAN COMPANIES PLC
By:
/s/ Melanie M. Trent
Melanie M. Trent
Senior Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer and Company Secretary
3