ChampionX, a global leader in chemistry solutions, has appointed Dr. Song Gao as director of research, development, and engineering (RD&E) for chemical technologies in the Eastern Hemisphere (EH).
Based in Aberdeen, Dr. Gao will lead the regional team, driving innovation and technological advancements to support key accounts across the region.
Dr. Gao holds a PhD in Chemical and Materials Engineering from the University of Alberta and has worked with ChampionX for more than 15 years, most recently as director of RD&E in Canada, a position she took up in 2021.
In her leadership roles, spanning more than a decade, she has been instrumental in developing solutions for heavy oil treatment in the Canadian oil sands industry as well as pioneering the company’s internal data analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), and digital transformation efforts, all of which have been key in driving efficiency in product development and data-driven decision-making.
In ChampionX’s chemical technologies business, the team combines a focus on understanding its customers’ needs with a robust portfolio of chemistries and data-driven insights to treat production and water issues from the most complex to the most routine, keeping safety at the forefront.
In her new role, Dr. Gao will oversee the development of advanced technology solutions to tackle key industry challenges, including optimising production chemistry, enhancing asset integrity through monitoring, and reducing environmental impact with sustainable practices.
By integrating AI and machine learning with traditional chemistry and engineering approaches, she aims to deliver sustainable, data-driven solutions for scaling control, asset integrity, flow assurance challenges and production maximisation.
This digitalisation enhances precision in the development process, enables predictive analytics, and accelerates problem-solving, positioning ChampionX to drive innovation, meet market demands, and deliver greater value to customers.
Dr Gao said: "I’m excited to join the dynamic Aberdeen team and look forward to accelerating the development of innovative chemical technologies that deliver real value to our customers.
"My focus will be on increasing collaboration across our global teams to solve complex customer problems, leveraging data and digital tools to enhance our technical capabilities, and ensuring that our solutions not only meet but exceed the evolving needs of the industry.
"It’s an exciting time for innovation, and I’m thrilled to lead these efforts in the Eastern Hemisphere.”
Norm Byrne, VP RD&E, chemical technologies at ChampionX, added: “Song’s appointment to lead RD&E in the Eastern Hemisphere marks an important step in our strategy to accelerate innovation and strengthen our technical leadership in the region.
"Her proven track record in driving data-led solutions and her deep scientific understanding of both technology and customer needs make her the ideal leader to guide our efforts in delivering differentiated technologies that create value for our clients.
“We are confident that under Song’s leadership, the team will continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible, ensuring we remain at the forefront of innovation in the energy sector.
“At the same time, I’d like to extend our heartfelt thanks to her predecessor Chris Gamble, who retired in 2024 after a long and dedicated career with the business. His contributions have been invaluable, and we wish him all the best in his next chapter.”
ChampionX is a global leader in chemistry solutions and highly engineered equipment and technologies that help companies drill for and produce oil and gas safely and efficiently around the world. ChampionX’s products provide efficient functioning throughout the lifecycle of a well with a focus on the production phase of wells.