Aberdeen-based Cosalt Offshore has named Rod Buchan as its new chief executive.
The appointment follows the departure of previous CEO Calum Melville, who was suspended before quitting in September.
Mr Buchan is described as a highly experienced industry figure, and was latterly managing director of Aker Offshore partner in Aberdeen.
Cosalt Offshore is a provider of lifting, tooling and marine services to the oil and gas industry. It has nearly 300 workers based in Aberdeen and Stavanger. Turnover in the 2009-10 financial year was £44.2million.
Cosalt Offshore said yesterday it was preparing to handle high levels of work this year.
Mark Lejman, chief executive of parent Cosalt, said: “Rod has an enviable reputation in the oil and gas industry established over 30 years. His experience is very much aligned with Cosalt Offshore’s ethos of providing exceptional service for customers across the North Sea.
“We are delighted he has joined us and believe he is an excellent person to lead our team as we work to strategically develop the business from our bases in Aberdeen and Stavanger.
“Rod’s appointment marks the end of the necessary changes made to the senior Cosalt Offshore management team and the creation of a new stronger team.”
Mr Buchan said: “I am delighted to be joining Cosalt Offshore. It is a business with a reputation for technical excellence, an industry-leading portfolio of products and services, a highly competent and committed workforce and a strong long-term customer base.
“With strong prospects in both North Sea and international markets, I am looking forward to leading the strategic development of the business.”
GTC Group, which trades as Cosalt Offshore, is suing two of its former bosses and last month won a court order to investigate whether money was siphoned off into bank accounts controlled by the men.
Lawyers for GTC have started a civil action against former directors Calum and Stuart Melville and a London-based company called Meapac.
At a hearing in the Court of Session, in Edinburgh, in December, judge Lord Glennie heard that GTC wanted £1.5million damages over allegations that Meapac invoiced for thousands of yards of wire rope that were not delivered.
Both the Melville brothers and Meapac deny any wrongdoing.
The civil action follows an investigation into millions of pounds’ worth of assets that Cosalt says are missing.
Calum Melville, the reigning Grampian Industrialist of the Year, resigned from the board of Dundee Football Club in November following its slide into administration.