Drilling fluid specialist FOCUS, which was formed in January following the merger of Performance Fluid Management (PFM) and QTEC Energy Services, has appointed regional managers to lead its three international business units.
The Aberdeen-headquartered, independent oil and gas service company has established three divisions to cover the Americas; Europe, the Middle East and Africa; and Asia Pacific. Specialising in the management and optimisation of drilling fluid systems over the whole life-cycle of a well, the firm has over 20 years’ experience in the sector.
Rick Smith has been appointed to lead the business’s growth in North and South America; Liam Manderson will oversee operations in Europe, the Middle East and Africa; while Tim Hopkins is charged with developing FOCUS’s activities in the Asia Pacific region.
Rick Smith was previously technical manager with PFM based in Houston, a role he held for eight years providing services on a global basis. He began his 35-year career in the oil and gas industry as an R&D chemist, before progressing to offshore mud engineering in the Canadian Arctic and on the east coast of Canada.
In 1992, Rick founded ProActa Environmental Services to fulfil a growing need for environmental compliance in the drilling industry. He sold the business in 1998, and has since then held roles specialising in drilling fluid, solids control and environmental management. Alongside managing FOCUS’s operations in the Americas, he will be responsible for maintaining and improving its service offering and high standard of HSEQ.
Rick said: “FOCUS is the merger of two companies that consistently provided savings to their clients. We are poised to continue providing our independent expertise in the environmental, optimization and compliance areas.”
Liam Manderson is charged with increasing offerings to both existing and new clients in Europe and the Middle East, as well as combining the suite of services for onshore and offshore operations in the region. A graduate of Aberdeen’s Robert Gordon University, Liam held sales roles across several industries before joining energy services business Broad Cairn in 2012. The following year, he became commercial manager at QTEC where he helped to develop the business offering globally.
Commenting on his new role, Liam said: “I’m very excited about the enormous opportunity for FOCUS in 2016. The business has the ability to move forward positively in such a challenging economic environment.
“Building on the businesses global experiences and operational successes, we have the means to make a real difference with FOCUS by adding value and collaborating in order to make a positive impact on our clients’ projects.”
Tim Hopkins takes on the role of Asia Pacific regional manager with FOCUS having previously managed QTEC’s operations in Australia. A native of Perth, Tim graduated with a degree in Applied Chemistry from the city’s Curtin University and began his career as a corrosion chemist in the oil and gas industry.
Over the past 20 years, Tim has gained extensive experience in oil and gas production, oilfield chemistry and also exploration and drilling. He believes that this, combined with his local knowledge, will aid FOCUS in strengthening its position in the market.
Commenting on his appointment, Tim said: “Our company has been operating in this part of the world for many years. Off the back of increased business, we have set up a permanent Australian base in Perth to service our existing clients and grow our customer base.
“The drilling and production industry has been a leader in environmental safety and regulatory compliance for a long time. More recently, the attention has turned to operational efficiency and the reduction of waste and transportation costs. FOCUS is well placed in the Asia Pacific region to provide these services.”
All three regional managers begin their roles with immediate effect, reporting directly to managing director Peter Matthews. The regional business units will operate from the firm’s premises in Houston, Aberdeen and Perth.
Commenting on the new appointments, Peter Matthews said: “Rick, Liam and Tim bring valuable know-how to FOCUS and will be an asset to the management team. Their unique strengths and combined leadership will help shape the future of FOCUS as we embark on this new united chapter. The knowledge and international experience that they bring to their roles creates a stronger international business that places greater emphasis on optimisation and environmental compliance.”
Headquartered in Aberdeen, FOCUS provides compliance, audit, environmental planning and permitting, and drilling fluid system performance management services to oil and gas operators and drilling contractors globally. Operating as three regional business units covering the Americas; Europe, the Middle East and Africa; and Asia Pacific, the firm employs 60 staff. The key aims of the firm’s services are to eliminate or reduce surface spills from drilling operations, optimise the performance of solids control equipment to reduce costs, and ensure environmental and governmental compliance. For more information about FOCUS telephone +44 (0) 845 213 0272 or visit www.focus-oandg.com.