New chairman of the board for Decom North Sea

Decom North Sea (DNS), the representative body for the offshore decommissioning industry, has appointed Nigel Lees as the new chairman of the board.

DNS said on Thursday that Lees’ election follows the decision of Callum Falconer to step down from the position after two years as chairman.

Lees has considerable experience in decommissioning as Vice President responsible for Decommissioning at Wood Group and has been an active member on the DNS board of directors for the past five years.

Lees said: “As the spotlight intensifies on decommissioning and how the industry will prepare for the challenges ahead, this is an exciting time for me to take up the reins as chairman.

“I believe that Decom North Sea has a crucial role to play in representing its membership as the recognized body for the decommissioning supply chain, working closely with our industry partners and government to ensure these challenges are met and opportunities realized in the most appropriate manner.”

Roger Esson, Decom North Sea chief executive, said: “We are delighted to announce Nigel’s election to the post of Chairman, as we have valued his input and commitment to the body over the last five years.

“This is a challenging time for the North Sea industry in general, with late life asset management and decommissioning increasingly appearing on the agenda. I have no doubt that Nigel’s significant experience and network will contribute to helping our members – and the wider industry – understand and prepare for what lies ahead.”

This is the second high-profile appointment in the last few months after DNS appointed Esson as chief executive back in May.

Also, DNS said that it will once again be hosting its annual Offshore Decommissioning Conference on November 14-16, in conjunction with Oil & Gas UK. One of the main focuses of the event will be late-life planning and asset management, which has been recognized as a significant opportunity for the industry in the decommissioning process.