Change at top for pipeline specialist Stats Group

Aberdeenshire pipeline technology specialist Stats Group has unveiled a change at the top less than a year after its acquisition by Japanese firm Mitsui & Co.

Stats chief executive Leigh Howarth is stepping down in a planned leadership transition and will assume a nonexecutive directorship role with the company. Stephen

Rawlinson, Stats’ regional director North America and global sales director, will succeed Howarth following a “rigorous global recruitment process”, the Kintore-based group said.

Howarth was appointed chief executive in 2016 and relinquishes the role as the company gears up to announce record annual revenues in its forthcoming year-end accounts. He said: “I’m proud to have served as CEO for the past eight years and of the many milestones achieved along the way. There’s no doubt Stats has evolved to become a strong international business which has tremendous further potential in both the current energy pipeline markets and emerging low carbon sector.

“I’m excited to have the opportunitytocontinueworking with Steve and the Stats board as we pursue ambitious strategic growth plans, in conjunction with Mitsui.” Rawlinson, a dual Canadian

and British national, has spent 13 years in various management roles at the company, including general manager, regional director and sales director positions in North America, and is said to have played a major role in supporting the “unprecedented growth” at Stats over the last decade.

He added: “Leigh has been instrumental in leading our strategy to internationalise the business.”