Decom North Sea, the Aberdeen-based industry forum set up last year to maximise new business opportunities presented by offshore decommissioning, has confirmed Brian Nixon as its first chief executive.
The Press and Journal reported the change of role for the former director of Scottish Enterprise’s energy team earlier this month.
A mechanical engineer by profession, Mr Nixon had more than 25 years’ oil and gas experience prior to joining SE in 2001, including four years as sales and marketing director with Wood Group Engineering and a secondment to the British Embassy in Luanda, Angola, as first secretary, commercial, for oil and gas.
Decom chairman Murdo MacIver said: “Brian emerged as the outstanding candidate in a strong field during a three-month recruitment process, and brings with him a strong blend of private and public-sector experience.
“He already has a substantial knowledge of the opportunities and challenges of the North Sea decommissioning market, and this will help us accelerate our transfer of practical market intelligence to our members.”
Decom was formed last April in response to supply-chain uncertainty about how to make inroads into the North Sea decommissioning market, which could be worth as much as £25billion over the next two decades. With initial funding from the Department for Energy and Climate Change, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Scottish Enterprise, Decom plans to attract members throughout the North Sea region and across the supply chain.
Mr Nixon said: “By its nature, decommissioning can’t be a local business; it has to be packaged on a regional or even international scale, which means we aim to help our members collaborate in new ways and share their practical experience.
“Our research confirms that North Sea operators want to work with supply-chain providers who can demonstrate solid decom experience and an understanding of their needs and at this stage in the market there are only a small number of companies in that category.
“One of our first tasks is to set up and maintain a computer-based competency database on the 200 service companies and contractors whom we estimate have the ambition and potential to . . . join the supply chain.”
Decom aims to open its doors to members early this year, and is working on a programme of events in collaboration with other energy development organisations and government agencies.
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