Ashtead Technology appoints Alison Hazell as Chief Marketing Officer
With global responsibility for the company’s marketing and communications functions, Alison will support the delivery of Ashtead Technology’s growth strategy, strengthening their marketing position and enhancing engagement with customers, employees, investors and key stakeholders worldwide.
Alison brings a wealth of experience in brand strategy, corporate communications, investor engagement and organisational transformation. She has previously held senior positions in major organisations, most recently Chief Marketing Officer for EnerMech and PXGEO, where she led enterprise-wide marketing that supported business transformation, commercial growth and value creation.
Commenting on Alison’s appointment, Ashtead Technology Chief Executive Officer, Allan Pirie said: “Alison has a strong track record of building high-performing teams, leading complex change programmes and aligning marketing strategy with business growth objectives. As we continue to expand our global footprint and enhance our position as a leading integrated subsea technology solution provider, her experience and leadership will be invaluable. We are delighted to welcome Alison to the team and look forward to the contribution she will make as we continue our next phase of growth.”
Alison added: "What immediately stood out to me about Ashtead Technology was the depth of technical expertise across the organisation, in combination with a strong customer focus and an ambition for the future. The business has achieved an incredible amount, establishing a solid platform for future growth. I am excited to join the team and look forward to working with colleagues around the world to continue building the Ashtead Technology brand, showcasing the expertise and innovation that sets us apart, whilst deepening relationships with our customers and stakeholders. Strategic marketing and communications have an important role to play in supporting commercial growth, and I'm looking forward to the next chapter of the company's success."
MacArtney names Donald Macleod as UK and Ireland Managing Director
Global underwater technology leader MacArtney has appointed Donald Macleod as Managing Director of its UK and Ireland business, the company's largest operation outside Denmark.
Based in Dyce, close to Aberdeen Airport, MacArtney has served the UK and Ireland since 1999, supporting the marine, offshore, ocean science and naval sectors.
Donald spent more than six years with Dutch marine contractor Boskalis, latterly as Quality and Transformation Director for its offshore energy division. Before that, he served as the Engineering, SHEQ (safety, health, environment, and quality), and Supply Chain Director for its subsea services arm.
Previously, he was Managing Director of Highland Fuels, one of Scotland's major independent fuel distributors, and Operations Director at energy industry consultancy PDi.
Niels Peter Christiansen, Chief Executive of MacArtney, said: “The UK and Ireland are a key market, and Aberdeen is central to how we serve the North Sea and beyond. Donald's background gives him firsthand insight into the challenges and considerations our customers face, putting him in an ideal position to grow the business.
“With him in post, our operation benefits from strong local leadership, backed by the resources of an international organisation.”
Donald Macleod, Managing Director, MacArtney UK and Ireland, said: "MacArtney is a well-established international business with a strong heritage and excellent reputation. The founders' values, with entrepreneurship, quality and people at their heart, very much align with my own.
"Throughout my career, I've worked alongside suppliers and customers, and good relationships come down to open communication, responsiveness and reliable products. I see opportunities to build on MacArtney's position as a trusted partner to the energy sector, while exploring further growth in defence and ocean science.
"The Aberdeen team has built solid foundations, and I look forward to working with colleagues across the group to take the UK and Ireland operation into its next phase."
Donald will work closely with Paul McCafferty, group Chief Commercial Officer, who joined the company in March.
MacArtney's Aberdeen team of 55 works from a purpose-built 3,000 m² facility with cable assembly and moulding workshops, a 1,000 m² warehouse, and a hydrostatic pressure test facility that simulates depths of up to 6,000 m.
Founded in 1978 by Martin and Winnie MacArtney and still family-owned, MacArtney designs, manufactures, supplies and services the connectivity and data acquisition equipment and systems that link surface and seabed. Its brands include SubConn® wet mateable connectors, OptoLink™ fibre optic connectors, GreenLink™ flexible grid connectivity solutions and the FOCUS™ and TRIAXUS™ towed survey vehicles.
Headquartered in Esbjerg, it employs around 500 people across 21 operations and sales offices in Europe, the Americas, the Middle East and Asia Pacific, supported by 18 distributor locations.
In its latest financial year, revenue rose 18% to £150 million (DKK 1,281 million, US$205 million).
General Oceans ASA – Appointment of new Executive Vice Presidents
General Oceans ASA is pleased to announce that Jannicke Koch-Hagen has been appointed Executive Vice President of Nortek, Louis Burnard has been appointed Executive Vice President of RS Aqua Ltd, and Nathan King has been appointed Executive Vice President of Reach Robotics.
Jannicke Koch-Hagen joined Nortek in 2014 and brings more than 30 years of experience in finance, business development, supply chain and international operations. During her time at Nortek, she has held several senior roles, including CFO & HR Director, VP & Financial Director and acting CEO (2024/2025 and 2026). Before joining Nortek, Koch-Hagen was Finance Director at Green Resources, a sustainable forestry company operating across East Africa. Earlier in her career, she held senior positions in finance, supply chain and business development at a global specialty pharmaceutical company. She holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Henley Management College and has completed studies in auditing at BI Norwegian Business School.
Koch-Hagen has been acting EVP of Nortek since August 2026 and assumed her new duties permanently on 1st September 2026. She replaces Bjørn Ladegård who left the company in summer 2026.
Louis Burnard, the new Executive Vice President of RS Aqua, joins the company after more than 16 years at Fugro, where he held numerous leadership roles, including Country Management and Regional Business Line Director. Most recently, he led a global commercial transformation across all business lines, reshaping the company’s approach to pricing, bidding and commercial risk management. Burnard holds a Bachelor of Science in Planetary Science from University College London.
Burnard succeeds Martin Stemp, who contributed to RS Aqua’s success for more than 14 years and ensured a smooth transition following the company’s acquisition by General Oceans in November 2024.
"I am delighted to welcome Jannicke and Louis as permanent members of General Oceans’ Brand Leadership Team. Their experience and knowledge will be valuable as we continue to grow our business. I would also like to thank Bjørn and Martin for their contributions to the Group and wish them the best of luck in the future," said Atle Lohrmann, President of General Oceans.
In addition, having overseen the running of the business for several months, demonstrating strong leadership through a period of transition, Nathan King has now been formally appointed as Executive Vice President of Reach Robotics. With a strong operational background and robust understanding of the business, King brings confidence that Reach will continue its growth trajectory with a solid and progressive team in place. Atle Lohrmann commented, "Reach Robotics has been a real success story and it’s clear to see that Nathan brings the energy to take the business further as it grows its capabilities in subsea robotics."
MacArtney strengthens Board with appointment of Geir Håøy
MacArtney Underwater Technology has appointed Geir Håøy, former President and CEO of KONGSBERG, to its Board of Directors, effective June 2026. The appointment strengthens the Board with insights from technology environments where system performance and reliability are directly tied to customer operations and results.
Throughout his career, Geir Håøy has worked with technologies developed and deployed in maritime, defence, and ocean-focused industries, where operational performance carries clear consequences. His leadership approach reflects collaboration and shared responsibility, shaped by settings where results depend on teams working closely together across functions and locations.
Geir Håøy comments: "MacArtney has established a strong position through technology, innovation and close collaboration with customers and partners. The company operates in industries where operational reliability and informed decision-making are becoming increasingly important, and I look forward to contributing to the company's future direction together with the Board and management."
Mads Nipper, Chair of MacArtney Group, welcomes the appointment: “Geir brings strong industry experience and an international perspective. His background from KONGSBERG adds a further dimension as we continue to move MacArtney forward within our core segments. I am convinced Geir will bring unique value to MacArtney, and I look forward to working with him on the Board.”
Global technology leadership with operational relevance Geir Håøy spent more than 30 years at KONGSBERG, including over 10 years as President and CEO. His career includes leading global technology organisations, international roles in Asia, including Singapore and South Korea, and responsibility for customer-facing activities across the marine and offshore, ocean science, and defence industries.
This background is particularly relevant to MacArtney, where technology development, business relationships, and long-term commitments are closely connected.
As the company expands its involvement in advanced subsea applications, Geir Håøy's strategic perspective provides the Board with insight into how MacArtney's connectivity, data acquisition, service, and workshop solutions support reliable customer operations and create value in demanding operational environments.
Kyle Paterson Joins C-SAM as Customer Onboarding Specialist
C-SAM expands its Professional Services team to support customer onboarding and the transition to its new SaaS-based platform.
C-SAM is pleased to announce that Kyle Paterson has joined the company as Customer Onboarding Specialist, strengthening its global Professional Services team as the business continues the rollout of its new SaaS-based platform.
In his new role, Kyle will work closely with colleagues and customers around the world, supporting training, implementation and customer onboarding. He will play an important role in helping new and existing customers understand and adopt C-SAM’s latest product developments as the company transitions from its established web-based platform to a modern Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) model.
Kyle’s appointment reflects C-SAM’s continued investment in the customer experience, ensuring customers receive the training, guidance and practical support they need throughout the onboarding process and beyond.
Steven Sanderson, Professional Services Manager at C-SAM, said:
“We’re delighted to welcome Kyle to C-SAM. As we expand the Professional Services team and continue the transition to our new SaaS platform, providing customers with a smooth and well-supported onboarding experience is a major priority for us. Kyle’s role will strengthen the support we can provide during that process, from initial training through to helping customers get the most from the platform. We look forward working with him and seeing the contribution he makes to the team and our customers”.
Outside of work, Kyle enjoys going to the cinema and is currently learning to play the guitar, giving him plenty to keep busy when he isn’t helping customers get up and running with C-SAM.
Welcome to the team, Kyle!
Geraint West joins Ocean Business as Technical Consultant
Geraint’s career spans over 40 years in the maritime sector, with the last 10 of these being in a variety of business development roles at Sonardyne International Ltd.
Prior to this, he worked at the National Oceanography Centre, setting up its Marine Autonomous and Robotic Systems facility and commissioning the global class research ships, RRS James Cook and RRS Discovery.
His early career was spent as a hydrographic surveyor, initially in the Royal Navy and then with Fugro in the USA.
Geraint is now partially retired but still finds time to coordinate the UK’s Society of Maritime Industries’ MAChallenge competition as well as serving as a director and trustee of The Hydrographic Society, UK and Ireland.
He is also currently a member of the Journal of Ocean Technology’s editorial board.
Geraint has already made his mark, lending his expertise to the team's training and demo application process ahead of next week's launch, and is helping to shape the conference programme themes alongside Gordon Johnston and Sue John.
Welcome to the team, Geraint!
Unique Group appoints new Chief Executive Officer
Unique Group, global leaders in subsea technologies and engineering, has announced the appointment of Giovanni Corbetta as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective from July 1, 2026.
Giovanni brings more than three decades of leadership experience across the offshore energy, subsea, marine services, engineering, and defence sectors. Throughout his career, he has successfully led businesses across Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the Americas, building a strong track record in operational excellence, business transformation, acquisition integration, and sustainable growth.
Most recently, he held several senior leadership roles within James Fisher & Sons plc, including Strategic Advisor to the CEO, Head of Business Excellence, Managing Director of the Marine Contracting Division and Managing Director of JFD. In these positions, he was responsible for offshore and subsea operations, production and manufacturing, engineering services, project delivery, and international business performance.
Prior to this, Giovanni held senior leadership positions within DOF Subsea, Hallin Marine and Saipem where he gained extensive experience managing complex global operations and delivering critical engineering projects in demanding marine environments.
His technical and operational expertise spans subsea technologies, marine services, diving operations, offshore engineering, manufacturing, project execution and international operations management.
Commenting on the appointment, Harry Gandhi, Chairman and Founder of Unique Group, said: "Giovanni's combination of global leadership experience, deep industry expertise and proven ability to drive operational excellence make him exceptionally well positioned to lead Unique Group into its next phase of growth. He demonstrated a strong alignment with the values that have shaped our company for more than three decades, and we are delighted to welcome him to the team."
Giovanni added: "I am honoured to join Unique Group at such an exciting point in its journey. The company has built an outstanding reputation for innovation, customer focus and technical excellence, supported by a culture rooted in trust, integrity and entrepreneurship. I look forward to working closely with our talented teams around the world to build on these strong foundations, strengthen our market position and continue delivering value for our customers, partners and stakeholders."
Giovanni's appointment reflects Unique Group's commitment to continued growth, innovation and operational excellence while maintaining the values, entrepreneurial spirit and customer-centric approach that have been central to the company's success since its founding in 1993.
With extensive industry experience and a strong cultural fit, Giovanni is well positioned to lead Unique Group through its next phase of development, building on the company's established reputation as a trusted partner to customers across the offshore energy, subsea, marine and defence sectors.
HydroSurv announces Board appointment of Maritime Industry Leader, Mark Burnett
HydroSurv has announced the appointment of experienced maritime industry leader Mark Burnett as Non-Executive Director, strengthening the company's Board as it enters its next phase of development.
Since 2019, HydroSurv has been on a journey to establish itself as a trusted provider of Uncrewed Surface Vessel (USV) solutions, supporting organisations across offshore energy, ports and harbours, shoreline management and maritime security.
As industrial adoption of uncrewed maritime capabilities accelerates, the company is investing beyond its engineering and product development into the wider leadership structures that will support HydroSurv’s growth ambitions.
Mark joins HydroSurv with more than three decades of executive leadership experience across the marine, offshore, environmental technology and maritime autonomy sectors. Throughout his career, he has led organisations through periods of operational transformation, commercial development and strategic change, earning a reputation for combining business leadership with a practical understanding of technology, innovation and organisational development. This combination of executive leadership and strategic advisory experience brings valuable perspective to HydroSurv as the company continues to broaden its capabilities and market presence.
Alongside his consultancy work, Mark is an active advocate for regional maritime innovation. As Chair of the North Devon & Torridge Maritime Network and a Board Member (Marine) on the Northern Devon Economy, Innovation & Skills Action Board, he works closely with industry, academia and government to encourage collaboration, champion innovation and support the continued development of the South West's maritime economy. His passion for developing sustainable maritime capability and fostering meaningful partnerships closely aligns with HydroSurv's own values of ocean and environmental stewardship, and intentional innovation.
Mark's appointment comes at an important point in HydroSurv's journey, with the company continuing to expand its commercial operations, strategic partnerships and international presence. Working with the Board and leadership, Mark will provide independent guidance, strategic challenge and experienced insight, helping to strengthen corporate governance and contribute to the company's long-term strategic direction.
Having known HydroSurv’s Founder & CEO David Hull for several years through the commercial maritime sector, Mark has watched the company establish itself as one of the UK's leading providers of integrated commercial USV solutions.
Speaking about his appointment, Mark said:
"I've known David and HydroSurv for several years, and during that time I've watched the business grow with a clear sense of purpose, professionalism and ambition. I've always believed in working with people who share the same values, and that has always been important to me throughout my career. HydroSurv has built an exceptional team, a strong reputation and an exciting platform for future growth. I'm delighted to be joining the Board and look forward to putting my shoulder to the wheel, sharing my experience where I can and supporting the team as HydroSurv continues to build on everything it has already achieved."
David Hull, Founder and CEO of HydroSurv, said:
“As HydroSurv has grown, we've come to recognise that every Board appointment must bring genuine strategic value, underpinned by deep sector expertise and a shared vision. Mark Burnett exemplifies the exact calibre of strategic leader we have been seeking. His extensive experience across the ocean industries, combined with a strong understanding of technology adoption and business growth, will be invaluable as we enter our next phase of development. Strengthening our Board with experienced leaders ensures we have the governance, strategic oversight and commercial perspective needed to scale responsibly, while continuing to deliver innovative solutions for our customers worldwide.”
Bedrock Appoints Former Satellogic Exec as CEO to Drive Growth in Autonomous Maritime Intelligence
Bedrock Ocean Exploration, a leader in autonomous subsea data and intelligence, announced the appointment of a Chief Executive Officer as the company builds on major deployments and rising demand across global offshore markets.
Tirman brings more than two decades of experience in scaling deep-technology companies across geospatial intelligence, data platforms, and high-growth global commercial operations. He previously helped lead Satellogic through early commercial traction to tens of millions in revenue and its public market debut. Under his leadership, Satellogic delivered cutting edge imagery and data products to defense and intelligence customers worldwide, and complex space system sales to include a broad area maritime constellation. As CEO, he will drive Bedrock's strategy, go-to-market execution, and operational growth. Founder Charles Chiau will continue as Chief Technology Officer, focusing on hardware and software advancements as Bedrock enters its next phase of innovation in delivering AI-driven, autonomous subsea intelligence for enterprise and government customers at a global scale.
"The opportunity ahead is massive," said Tirman, the new CEO of Bedrock. "It's similar to the early days of the space economy, where access to high-quality data unlocked entirely new markets. Today we support sustained operations in complex offshore environments across the Gulf of Mexico, UK, and North Sea, and we are experiencing exceptionally strong demand across government and commercial sectors."
Bedrock is building the largest private fleet of autonomous underwater vehicles, supporting the offshore energy, hydrographic mapping, and maritime security industries. Its vertically integrated platform with multi-sensor subsea data can be deployed without specialized infrastructure and operate in a wide range of offshore environments, from small vessels to large-scale ships. Bedrock's Mosaic platform offers seamless data access, visualization, and collaboration, while Trident supports remote fleet operations and mission coordination, enabling it to deliver faster surveys, lower costs, and more reliable data than traditional methods.
"Having held both the CEO and CTO roles through our early growth, I'm excited to continue innovating and redefining how maritime intelligence is captured and delivered," said Chiau, founder and CTO of Bedrock. "With Matt leading go-to-market, I'll be focusing on advancing our dual-use technical roadmap to continue to increase speed to insight for our customers."
"Accessing high-quality seafloor data has historically been slow, expensive, and complex," said Greg Sands, Founder and Managing Partner at Costanoa. "As demand accelerates across energy, defense, and environmental monitoring, Bedrock is redefining what's possible with a faster, safer, and more cost-effective approach to subsea intelligence."
PXGEO boosts leadership team with two key appointments
Marine seismic innovations business PXGEO has strengthened its senior leadership team with two key appointments to drive operational excellence across its global operations.
Bob Nouh has been appointed as Technical Solutions Director & SVP and Carlos Cubeddu has joined as Operations Director & SVP.
Mr Nouh brings nearly 30 years of industry experience and a strong track record in operational efficiency. Most recently, he served as Director of Technical Services and Engineering at Transocean before working as an independent consultant.
In his new role, Mr Nouh will oversee the company’s technical functions, providing both strategic and technical guidance to ensure safe and successful project execution. Based in Dubai, he will also lead the development, integration and maintenance of PXGEO’s advanced technical systems, equipment and digital solutions across its global fleet.
Mr Cubeddu joins from Parker Wellbore, where he served as Vice President for the Eastern Hemisphere. With more than 25 years’ experience driving operational transformation and growth, he will lead the strategic and tactical delivery of the company’s global seismic operations.
As Operations Director & SVP, Mr Cubeddu will collaborate closely with the firm’s regional operations teams in the Middle East, North America, South America and Malaysia. He will be responsible for aligning project execution with client expectations and commercial goals while embedding a culture of continuous improvement, standardisation and best practice across the organisation.
Both appointments will play a key role in supporting the deployment of PXGEO’s proprietary MNode ocean bottom node (OBN) technology which delivers an unmatched 300-day battery life.
Charles ‘Chuck’ Davison Jr, PXGEO CEO said: “As part of our continued commitment to PXGEO’s long-term success, we are ensuring the very best people are leading our business to support our sustainable growth strategy. I’m excited to welcome Bob and Carlos to PXGEO. Their combined knowledge and experience in delivering complex offshore projects will significantly enhance our operational capabilities and strengthen how we serve our customers with the excellence they expect.
“The seismic sector is one of the most technologically advanced and operationally demanding areas of the energy industry, and our continued investment in talent and innovation will keep PXGEO at the forefront of performance and productivity. I’m confident that with this strengthened leadership team, we are building on our solid foundation for continued operational excellence, reliable delivery and long-term stability for our customers and stakeholders.”
A leading specialist in seismic data acquisition and marine geophysical services, PXGEO was established in 2021. The firm employs a workforce of 400 across strategic global locations, including its Dubai headquarters and offices in Paris, Houston, and Oslo, along with a dedicated offshore workforce.
