Red7Marine appoints its first CEO

Red7Marine Offshore has appointed Martin Myhill Sisley as its first chief executive.

Martin Myhill Sisley joins the UK’s independent air diving provider as its new specialist vessel, Red7 Alliance, arrived at its Great Yarmouth base.

The vessel – part of the company’s £25m investment in equipment this year – sailed into Great Yarmouth harbour on Sunday heralding the ambitious company’s expansion into saturation diving and bringing more jobs to the town, said Red7Marine.

Red7Marine also notes that with 25 years’ offshore industry experience, Sisley, 43, is looking to expand the Great Yarmouth and Aberdeen-based company further, developing its expertise, fleet and services, exploring further in-roads into the oil & gas industry.

According to Red7Marine, the company – whose turnover has increased 10-fold since its formation in 2008, from £5.5m to more than £50m this year – has carved a reputation as the “go to” offshore diving and support services provider in the renewables industry.

Furthermore, the company says that the new post means a move “home” for Norfolk born and bred Sisley after 20 years in Aberdeen.

“The move back had to be for the right company. The main attraction of Red7Marine, as well as the acquisition of the Red7 Alliance, was that it has done so well and I could see there were clearly further opportunities for the company.”

Sisley’s appointment comes after Red7Marine Offshore was established earlier this year to run Red7Marine Group’s growing range of offshore and subsea services to the oil & gas and renewables industries.

He joins the company –soon to announce key on and offshore job opportunities and services for the Red7 Alliance as well as other career opportunities – from Ocean Installer in Aberdeen where, as managing director, he was its first UK-based employee, building a staff of 70 and a turnover of £25m, Red7Marine said.

“That was a great challenge, starting with a blank sheet of paper and building the business and reputation.”

Brought up at Hethersett, attending Hethersett and Notre Dame School in Norwich, Sisley first worked offshore at 18, following in the footsteps of his father, who was a diver.

Taking an office-based role in his early 20s meant a move to Aberdeen where he remained, with roles spanning the industry, including operations, marketing, commercial and business development for Oceaneering, Halliburton Subsea, Subsea7, Saipem, with at least five years’ experience with each.

Returning to Norfolk with his wife and three children had always been the plan, Sisley said.

“I’ve never really left. We always spend two weeks sailing on the Broads every summer. My family is here, all of my mother’s side of the family and we have regular get-togethers at the Ranworth Maltsters.

“My ancestors are from the Cantley area and are buried in Cantley churchyard,” he said.

As well as expanding Red7Marine Offshore’s client base in the oil & gas sector, his plans include developing excavation and burial services, launched with the development of its SeaVex equipment, the company further explains.

“I will be exploring this further, looking at rebranding and adding to this business through partnerships and more investment.” 

Mike Jones, Red7Marine director, said: “We are delighted that Martin is joining us. The need for this senior appointment comes as a direct result of the huge opportunities that are now in front of us.”

“Moving forward, there is a greater need to manage more closely the strategic growth and development plan already put in place.”

Among other internal changes, offshore projects director Peter Flint takes up the new position of technical director to support the diverse and complex needs of the offshore operations.

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