Before 2008, not many people in the North Sea had even heard of Taqa, Abu Dhabi’s water and electric company.
So it fell to its management – including HR manager Chris Dunridge – to fill them in after it snapped up assets from Shell and Exxonmobil to become a significant player and employer in the North Sea.
In 2007, the company launched its UK division, Taqa Bratani, with a small team of seven in Aberdeen. Now the firm has more than 500 employees and over 2,500 contractors and subcontractors.
The Emirati’s entrance to the North Sea came at a difficult time for many employees of Shell. Most of the 130 staff were aware the operations where they worked – including the four North Sea platforms Cormorant Alpha, North Cormorant, Tern and Eider – were up for sale. And while no-one was sure of the Anglo Dutch giant’s plans, at least they knew what they could expect from the firm as an employer. But a company controlled by the super-billioniare wealth of the United Arab Emirates?
“If anybody ever tells you they know everything about people, they are lying. They will always surprise you,” says Ms Dunridge, who has spent her career in HR.
“The personnel of Shell had been under the threat of sale for quite some time. The longer these things go on the more disaffected people get. Uncertainty breeds discontent.
“There was relief that the deal had gone through but they had no idea who these Emiratis were. We had to sell Taqa to them.
“The rest of the leadership team and I also had a major role to play helping the Emirati leaders understand the culture of the North Sea and Europe. At times there was a lot of debate and discussion about things we had to do.”
Along with the then chief executive Leo Koot, Ms Dunridge set about “winning hearts and minds” – as well as settling thorny issues such as a change in pension provisions and no more share bonuses – only UAE nationals can own shares in Taqa. “We were a baby organisation, It was an amazing opportunity to build an oil and gas operator from scratch.”
In the past few years Ms Dunridge was involved in recruiting more than 350 people for the group. In August, she left when Mr Koot – who moved to become president of Taqa’s operations in Iraq – did too.
For Ms Dunridge, it was time to rethink her career. Born and raised in the Western Isles, she had moved to Aberdeen with her former husband after several “highly pleasant” years in Surrey.
She had set up her consultancy there in the 1990s in order to balance a career and raising her daughter.
She hadn’t planned to go back to a full-time corporate job.
“I didn’t think I’d ever be employed again – Taqa came as a bit of a surprise,” she recalled.
Then in August, when she left Taqa, she decided to take her firm, the People Practice, from the “mothballs”.
She believes Aberdeen is a perfect place to be an entrepreneur and would encourage others to do the same.
“It is a great place to be entrepreneurial, but you probably should be a little bit afraid,” she admits.
“Nerves and fear can be a good motivator. Occasionally at 3am you can wake up and think ‘what have I done’. But you might always regret not having a go.”
Chris Dunridge: Q&A
Who helped you get where you are today? Many people along the way, but as a student my parents worked hard to support me and I hope I have made the most of the opportunities that they gave me. More recently, two of my colleagues at TAQA: Leo Koot, ex MD of TAQA and Ian McRae, operations director, taught me a great deal about the oil and gas industry. Leo also taught me to take opportunities where you can, to believe in myself, and encouraged me to take a leap of faith and resurrect The People Practice,
What do you still hope to achieve in business? Well, I don’t think that I can top being part of the leadership team that created such a great business as TAQA Bratani. However, if I can create a sustainable business and grow it to a small number of employees and associates within five years, I will be very satisfied.
If you were in power in government, what would you change? I would create greater links between the needs of employers and the education system, make more funds available for care of our elderly and encourage a more positive culture. Too many messages are negative and I believe the vast majority of people and organisations are good and well intentioned – we should celebrate that more.
What are you reading, listening to or glued to on TV? I am reading the latest Good Housekeeping magazine and the newest Peter May novel – Entry Island. I don’t watch much TV but will be glued to the new series of Damages and can’t wait until 24 is back. This week will be listening to as much coverage of Celtic Connections as I can.
If you were a character in a TV series or movie, who would you be? Glenn Close plays a brilliant but ruthless lawyer in Damages – it would definitely be more fun playing that type of complex character.
What do you drive and dream of driving? I drive an aging Volvo XC90 which I love but it won’t go on for ever and I am looking at smaller 4×4 models – I really do not know what I would like. If I could afford a dream car as well as a practical one it would probably be an Aston Martin DB9.
What would your children or partner say about you? My 19-year-old daughter would say that I am a pretty good mum but please could I stop asking her to tidy her room and definitely to stop singing.
Which charity do you support and why? I support breast cancer charities as that disease has touched so many people I have known and the Parkinson’s Disease Society as my father had Parkinson’s and I sponsor a guide dog puppy as my ex father-in law had many guide dogs and they make such a huge impact on their owners.
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