Petrofac’s Walter Thain was today named chairman of Oil & Gas UK’s UK Efficiency Taskforce (ETF).
Mr Thain is the managing director of Petrofac’s Engineering & Production Services (EPS) West business.
He will replace John Pearson of Amec Foster Wheeler, who stepped down after being appointed group president, Americas.
Mr Thain said: “I look forward to meeting the team and getting on with the sizeable tasks ahead. It’s more vital than ever that our industry pulls together and makes a collective commitment to working more effectively, efficiently and co-operatively in order to make a difference.”
“Having joined the Board of Oil & Gas UK this spring, I’m well aware of the progress we are making towards becoming more efficient – from taking a fresh look at inventory management through companies sharing details of some 200,000 spare parts online; to putting in place the use of standard rather than bespoke specifications in subsea design and construction and potentially saving 30 per cent on costs in the process.”
“Undoubtedly, a change in culture is the key to finding a better way to do business in the UK Continental Shelf and I’m looking forward to playing a significant role in securing a sustainable future for this basin.”
The taskforce, which was founded last year, targets sharing good practice and cross sector projects.
Stephen Marcos Jones, Oil & Gas UK’s director of Business Excellence, added: “We are delighted Walter will be leading this pan-industry group of experts – I feel certain he’ll ably guide this industry to cooperate to become more competitive in the global marketplace.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to add sincere thanks, on behalf of the whole industry, to John Pearson, for his significant contribution in launching the ETF, providing the great foundations we can build on in our second year.”