Leading geotechnical engineering and offshore drilling company Geoquip Marine has recently announced the appointment of highly respected industry figure Jean-Luc Laloë to its Board of Directors.
Jean-Luc, who has almost 40 years of experience in the offshore oil and gas industry, has joined as an independent non-Executive Director.
Jean-Luc originally entered the Offshore Engineering and Construction industry in 1980 and in the course of his career he has worked with Technip, Stolt Offshore, and Acergy /Subsea 7. He has held a wide variety of positions with a broad portfolio of responsibilities, including CFO and CEO.
Jean-Luc becomes the second major board appointment to Geoquip in a matter of weeks and he will work with Arvid Trolle, who joined in the Autumn, Chief Executive Officer Stewart Higginson and Executive Chairman of the Board Andrew Wright. Further independent non-Executive Director appointments are expected in the near future as the company’s growth continues to develop.
The appointments follow a major investment in the company by Njord Partners, following two consecutive record-breaking years for Geoquip in 2017 and 2018, in which the company delivered in excess of a 100 per cent increase in profits year on year.
Stewart Higginson believes that the appointment of Jean-Luc Laloë will directly benefit the company in a variety of ways. “We are delighted that Jean-Luc has agreed to join us. We specifically identified him as a key addition to the team not just for his industry experience, but also because of the knowledge he has accumulated as a Board Director and a hands-on member of the senior management team of a wide variety of business within the offshore services sector.
“There are three key functions that Jean-Luc will fulfil. Firstly, in his formal role as a Board Director, he will help shape the future of the business at a strategic level. Secondly, he brings a wealth of relationships and a good standing within the sector. We have experienced tremendous growth in the last few years and this has attracted significant investment, but it remains the case that we are a growing company that is really in its infancy and we know that Jean-Luc brings a level of credibility that will help the market to see us a long-term significant business partner. Thirdly Jean-Luc’s operational experience will help us as a management team develop personally and professionally and there is no doubt that we will learn a great deal from him.
“This appointment is a positive milestone for the company, and the fact that we have been able to attract a man of Jean-Luc’s calibre and status is highly significant for the development of Geoquip and speaks volumes for the success of the business in recent times.”