The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Changes at the top for firms
Oil and gas: Swire Oilfield Services and Bureau Veritas instal new chiefs
Two oil and gas industryfocused businesses in Aberdeen have new chief executives at the helm.
Swire Oilfield Services, which claims to be the world’s largest supplier of cargo carrying units to the offshore energy sector, said yesterday it had appointed John Bruce (JB) Rae-Smith to fill its hot seat following the recent retirement of Tor Helgeland after 22 years with the global company.
Mr Rae-Smith has worked for Swire Group in a variety of roles since 1985. He had a spell as managing director of Swire Pacific Offshore and, more recently, as director of Swire Pacific and executive director of the trading and industrial division.
At the group’s oil-field services arm, he joins chief financial officer Roy Shearer and chief business development officer Wayne Manning in the senior lineup. Established in 1979, Swire Oilfield Services supplies tailored modular work-space systems and services to the global marine and energy industries. The firm has a presence in all the major oil and gas regions, with large operations in Europe, Africa, the Americas and Asia Pacific.
Its new CEO said: “Although industry conditions have been tough over the past two years, the company has continued to strengthen its position by collaborating with customers and providing innovative solutions.”
Meanwhile, Bureau Veritas – a global leader in testing, inspection and certification (TIC) – confirmed its appointment earlier this year of Paul Shrieve as chief executive officer of North Sea offshore operations, marine and offshore. Mr Shrieve, who is based at the company’s Aberdeen office, has more than 15 years’ experience in senior management in the oil and gas industry.
His past roles include a spell as managing director at ATL Consulting Services, which was acquired by Bureau Veritas in 1999.
The new job marks a return
“Industry conditions have been tough”
to the company for the group’s former vice-president of North Sea oil and gas after a senior management role at German group Germanischer Lloyd.
Bureau Veritas – employing around 66,500 people globally – also said it had recruited 10 staff for its Aberdeen officer this year, and had further hiring plans for 2017.