Aker Solutions appoints new exec while high demand spurs further headcount increase

Norwegian oilfield services provider Aker Solutions has appointed a new senior vice president for communications amid growing demand for its services, which will enable the firm to further increase its headcount this year.

Aker Solutions announced the appointment of Kari Ertresvåg as senior vice president for communications on Friday. The firm says it is growing rapidly within low-carbon solutions for oil and gas production and renewable energy.

Marianne Hagen, executive vice president and head of sustainability, HSSE and communications at Aker Solutions, remarked: “We have 15,000 of the world’s best experts engaged in our operations in more than 20 countries around the world. With extensive capabilities, our purpose is to solve global energy challenges for future generations.

“Demand for our solutions is growing significantly, and in 2022 we will recruit a high number of experts to our operations around the world. Already, we are recruiting many talented people, eager to take part in the energy transformation. Kari is one of these talents, and we are very happy to get her on our team.”

Ertresvåg, who holds a master’s degree in political strategy and communication from the University of Kent, is a Norwegian national with wide experience in communications and public affairs, including senior positions at the aluminium and energy company Hydro. Prior to joining Hydro, Ertresvåg worked with communications for the European Free Trade Association in Brussels for seven years.

Kari Ertresvåg, Aker Solutions’ new SVP Communication, commented: “To reach Aker Solutions’ ambitious targets, it is essential to attract and retain engaged employees, be a preferred partner to customers, and have a good dialogue with communities where Aker Solutions has operations around the world. That puts the communications function front and centre, and I am excited to become part of a growth agenda that will #PowerTheChange and support the energy transition.”

Ertresvåg will start her new role on 1 April 2022 and within this position, her job will be to manage the communications function at Aker Solutions and report to EVP Marianne Hagen.

“This is a decisive decade for climate action and Aker Solutions is at the centre of the ongoing energy transition. In 2025, one-third of our total revenues will come from solutions enabling oil and gas production with low-carbon emissions, and from deliveries to renewable energy projects. And by 2030, two-thirds. In parallel, we aim to reduce our CO2 emissions by 50 per cent by 2030,” added Hagen.

It is worth reminding that Aker Solutions worked with AF Gruppen last year to merge the two companies’ existing offshore decommissioning operations into a 50/50 owned company with the goal of creating a global player for the environmentally friendly recycling of offshore assets.

However, the two companies decided to terminate the process in December 2021, as they did not succeed in reaching a final agreement.