NOF Energy, the business development organisation for oil, gas, nuclear and offshore renewables sectors, has announced that Graham Payne as its new chairman.
Mr Payne, who is managing director of Darchem Engineering, succeeds current chairman Neil Kirkbride, chief executive of Bel Valves, who will continue as an NOF Energy board member.
The announcement was made at the recent NOF Energy annual general meeting, which highlighted the growth of the organisation and its increasing presence in domestic and international energy markets.
George Rafferty, chief executive of NOF Energy, said: “I am delighted Graham has been appointed our new chairman. He will lead the board as we take the organisation forward in what is a significant period for industry in terms of the expansion of offshore wind and emergence of new nuclear.
“NOF Energy has established itself as one of the key member organisations in the energy sectors, which has the market knowledge, contacts and services to support the business development activities of companies in the supply chain. This growth has enabled NOF Energy to reach a watershed moment by becoming completely self-sufficient without reliance on public sector funding.”
Mr Payne has nearly thirty years’ experience in UK and international engineering, manufacturing and energy sectors.
He joined Darchem Engineering, which is part of the Esterline Group, as managing director in 2009.
Darchem Engineering has five business divisions located on two sites in Stockton-on-Tees and Gloucester. The company provides products and services to the aerospace, oil and gas, nuclear, naval marine and automotive sector supplying Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier-Shorts, Petrofac, Areva, Westinghouse, BAE Systems and Volvo.
In addition to his role as chairman of Durham City-based NOF Energy, Mr Payne is a Fellow of the Institute of Management and a Fellow of the Institute of Directors.
He is also on the North East Regional Advisory Board of the Bank of England, a member of the Chamber of Commerce and the Engineering Employers Federation.
Mr Payne said: “This is an exciting time to take on the chairmanship both in terms of industry development and the growth and evolution of NOF Energy. I would like to thank Neil Kirkbride for the excellent work he has done as chairman and am really pleased he is continuing as a board member.”
NOF Energy has a membership of more than 420 UK and international members and strategic partners.
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