North-east firm Ecosse Subsea Systems (ESS) said yesterday it had hired oil and gas industry veteran Mark Gillespie as managing director to drive “significant” growth over the next five years.
Mr Gillespie has held senior technical, commercial and contractual management roles at Technip, CSL, GE Oil and Gas, Centrica and Talisman.
In his last job, he was managing director of Aberdeen-based engineering and project management consultancy Project Development International.
He takes over MD duties at Banchory-based ESS from founder Mike Wilson, who remains as chairman and will focus on business-to-business relationships, special projects and technology market penetration and adoption.
Mr Wilson said the appointment strengthened the management team, while also introducing skills needed to accelerate the business through the next level of growth.
He added: “We are bucking the trend and the business is on an upward curve, however, we recognised that for ESS to fulfil its potential we needed to broaden our core management team.
“Mark Gillespie has impeccable credentials which will enhance our reputation and add value to clients.
“He has extensive MD experience in our business sector, and his technical and operational pedigree is aligned with our focus on the oil and gas, decommissioning and renewables industries.”
Mr Gillespie said: “This was an attractive proposition which was difficult to refuse.”
ESS has patented a range of tools which are used in seabed clearance, route preparation, trenching, backfill, pipelay, decommissioning and cable lay operations, and which are adaptable for hydrocarbon, power generation and renewables projects.
The company recently agreed a multimillion-pound revolving credit facility with Handelsbanken which will support larger tenders on renewables and power generation contracts and new business opportunities in the Baltic Sea, Far East and US.
Turnover is expected to grow in the current year to £23-£25million, with profits increasing to around £5million and the workforce to more than 50 people.
Meanwhile, the European chapter of the Intervention and Coiled Tubing Association has appointed Steve Moir, Aberdeen-based technical sales manager for Europe, Africa and the Commonwealth of Independent States at National Oilwell Varco, as its new chairman.
Mr Moir takes over the role from Elliot Kinch as the chapter drives forward its aim to promote well intervention services within the wider oil and gas industry.