Rovtech has appointed one of the energy sector’s top young leaders as its new chief executive.
John Polson will lead the specialist manufacturing firm as it seeks to accelerate the global expansion of nuclear energy and offshore wind.
The 30-year-old joins Rovtech from Aratellus, where he was Director of Projects and a member of the firm’s senior executive team.
Rovtech – which is based in Barrow-in-Furness and is opening an office in Aberdeen – is a leading expert in harsh environment manufacturing and primarily serves the nuclear and subsea energy sectors in the US, Japan, France, and the UK.
The company boasts a global track record of robotic intervention and monitoring systems capable of withstanding radiation, extreme heat, and deep ocean environments. Its full-service manufacturing capabilities include machining, prototyping, test and assembly.
Steve Gray and Stuart McLeod, managing partners of Ventex, alongside John Polson, the new chief executive of Rovtech and Ventex CFO Rob Aitken
It was acquired by climate tech venture studio Ventex in October – and Polson will work alongside the studio’s leadership team to deliver geographic and sectoral expansion at Rovtech.
Ventex Managing Partner Stuart McLeod said: “John has built a strong reputation as a hugely capable project director and is someone who really understands the importance of exceeding customer expectations.
“His leadership, diligence, analytical and communication skills will be crucial as we help Rovtech fulfil its scale potential. The business has a strong reputation for building world class products for harsh environments and is perfectly placed to support the energy transition and net-zero supply chain.”
Ventex Managing Partner Steve Gray added: “John Polson's appointment as CEO marks an exciting new chapter for Rovtech. John and I have been colleagues at two previous companies and I know John’s detailed understanding of the Rovtech product portfolio from an end-user perspective make him the prefect candidate to lead the business.”
John Polson said: “I am delighted to join Rovtech to help the business achieve its full potential and accelerate the journey to net zero.
“The energy transition will rely heavily on a robust supply chain equipped to operate in harsh environments, something Rovtech has been doing for more than 20 years.
“I have already been impressed by the dedication and ingenuity of the Rovtech team. Their commitment to innovation and problem-solving will be the basis of our service.”
John Polson, the new chief executive of Rovtech
The decommissioning of large legacy nuclear portfolios worldwide – together with government and financial sector support for new projects – creates long-term sustainable demand growth for specialist harsh environment engineering services.
Ventex believes Rovtech’s reputation in demanding environments also positions the firm perfectly for the opportunities in the wind industry.
Ventex was launched in Aberdeen this summer, and Rovtech is one of three businesses already in the studio’s portfolio, alongside Aberdeen-based High Performance Robotics (HPR) and decommissioning-focused artificial intelligence firm Rahd AI, which is headquartered in Perth, Australia.
Founders McLeod and Gray both have a track record of success in building global businesses. Gray was the founder and former chief executive of ROVOP, now a leading global player in the ROV rental market, recently sold to Chouest. McLeod led oil and gas completions and commissioning technology specialist QEDI through to its £33 million acquisition by Amec plc.
The pair have recently added former KPMG and PwC dealmaker Rob Aitken to the Ventex leadership team as they seek to repurpose the supply chain to seize green energy opportunities.
Ventex is applying its venture studio support model to grow companies with technologies that have significant potential to help solve the climate crisis.