Robotics firm chief joins the board of subsea hub

THE chairman of Tyneside subsea robotics firm Soil Machine Dynamics is among several to join the board of the newly established Global Underwater Hub, tasked with growing the UK’s £8bn subsea industry.

Mike Jones, who has worked for SMD for more than 29 years in various roles including design engineer, project manager, managing director and CEO, is part of an “exceptionally strong” board that will help steer the organisation, which was born out of Subsea UK last year.

Mr Jones joins Sue Barr, chair of the Marine Energy Council; Rear Admiral Paul Halton, director submarine support in the Royal Navy, and Zander Bruce, subsea operations manager at bp North Sea, among others.

The organisation – which is due to open a Newcastle base in the next 12 to 18 months – is led by former SMD CEO Andrew Hodgson as chairman, and chief executive Neil Gordon.

Mr Hodgson said: “We have assembled an exceptionally strong team for the Global Underwater Hub board which reflects the breadth and diversity of both the industry and regions, ensuring the new organisation can deliver value and growth both here in the UK and around the world.”

Mr Gordon added: “Each of these appointments bring specific sector experience, knowledge and a shared passion for the underwater sector. I’m looking forward to working with Andrew and the GUH Board, building on the underwater supply chain’s worldleading position in the global Blue Economy.”

The Global Underwater Hub already has an Aberdeen base and will also open a Bristol office in addition to the planned Newcastle one. It aims to promote cross-sector collaboration between organisations and drive export growth. It will also help industry to foster skills to build the UK’s competitive advantage.