UK: ROVOP Names New Finance Director

Subsea specialist ROVOP has appointed a finance director to further strengthen the company’s position for future growth.

Alan Shanks takes up the post and also joins ROVOP’s Board of directors, bringing extensive experience in successfully facilitating and managing strategic business expansion from a financial perspective.

Previously financial director for subsea oil and gas group, Harkand ISS, Alan’s track record also includes considerable experience of working with owner managed and private equity backed businesses to help drive forward growth.

Steven Gray, managing director at ROVOP, said Alan further strengthened the management team at the independent company which focuses exclusively on providing remotely operated vehicle (ROV) services for the oil & gas and offshore wind markets.

He said: “ROVOP has experienced exceptional growth since it was established and Alan joins at a time when the company enters an exciting new chapter. We are particularly pleased to have attracted someone of Alan’s calibre because his great depth of knowledge, both at an industry and corporate level, will be pivotal to helping ROVOP further build on its growth.”

Alan’s experience spans a number of financial roles across the energy industry. During his time with Harkand ISS – initially joining Integrated Subsea Services (ISS) in 2006 before the company merged with two other companies to come under the Harkand ISS banner – Alan was responsible for the financial management and funding of the fast-growing company.

Prior to joining ISS, Alan was head of corporate finance and advisory services at chartered accountants Hall Morrice where he established a new corporate finance service offering. He was previously assistant director of corporate finance at Ernst & Young where he managed transactions on behalf of clients including acquisitions, disposals and finance raising.

Alan, who is a fully-qualified chartered accountant, said: “In a relatively short period of time ROVOP has gained a reputation for delivering its expertise in an area of the energy industry where being able to meet the exact needs of clients is a skill that is in great demand.

“I’m joining an experienced and knowledgeable team. Their notable achievements and dynamic nature makes ROVOP an attractive company to work with and I look forward to playing a role in future successes.”

During March, Ed Davey, the UK Secretary of State for energy and climate change, hailed ROVOP as ‘a leading specialist in its field’ and one which is ensuring that the country remains at the global vanguard of the energy industry.

ROVOP has experienced outstanding growth since the company’s inception in 2011 and has created more than 60 highly skilled, export-driven jobs. The firm, which won a coveted SPE Offshore Achievement Award in March, delivers ROV services through its market leading equipment and dedicated talent pool of experts.

Alan joins ROVOP’s existing company Board which includes: chairman Mark Vorenkamp (formerly CEO of DOF Subsea); MD Steven Gray (formerly of Lloyds Development Capital); general manager Barry Stewart (formerly of STS/Neptune); operations director Doug Middleton (ex STS / Neptune & Technip); and commercial director Moray Melhuish (formerly of Subsea 7, Forum Subsea).

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Press release, October 11, 2013; Image: ROVOP