International energy consultant Xodus Group said yesterday it had appointed its first executive chairman to oversee a period of rapid growth.
Edward van Kersbergen joined the Aberdeen-based firm’s board as a non-executive director last year, but has become chairman as the company plans to more than double its workforce in four years.
Mr van Kersbergen said: “I have been incredibly impressed with the breadth of technical expertise within Xodus and the sheer ambition and drive of the management team.
“I look forward to being directly involved in the next chapter of the company’s development.
“We are aiming to at least double in size through organic growth to 1,000 by 2015 and in addition the board will be proactively seeking international acquisition opportunities.”
Xodus, established in 2005, employs 400 people and turns over £38.5million.
After spells with Shell and RDS-Resource Mr van Kersbergen co-founded oil service firm Horizon Energy Partners in 2001, which he sold to inspection and testing company SGS four years ago.
Xodus chief executive Colin Manson said: “We believe that Edward is the perfect chairman to guide Xodus through a very aggressive period of growth.
“His experience of growing, nurturing and selling businesses will be invaluable in supporting the board as we take Xodus to the next level.”
Last year, Xodus invested more than £7million in new offices in Houston, Nigeria, Norway, The Hague and in the UK.
The consultant, which employs 200 people in the north-east, also received £10million of investment to fund its expansion plans. The cash boost came from two investment vehicles: Sunrise Energy Group and the Simmons Parallel Energy Fund, which put in £6million and £4million respectively. The fresh funding led to a shake-up in the shareholding of Xodus, but management retained a majority stake.