New Applus Leader Forecasts Major Growth
Applus+, firmly established in the global testing, inspection and certification (TIC) market, today announces the appointment of well known energy sector director Iain Light as the new global leader of Applus RTD. He will be based in Rotterdam. Iain Light has led business operations for major international organisations including DNV and Lloyd’s Register in a career spanning 35 years, and succeeds Rob Van Doorn as head of Applus RTD, part of the Barcelona-based Applus+ group.
He arrives following four years as energy director for Lloyd’s Register, based in London, where he oversaw significant business growth including tripling turnover to more than GBP 260 million. Prior to this he worked for DNV.
Worldwide Network
Light, 56, will be based in Applus RTD’s headquarters in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. From this base he will lead the development of the business across the globe, with company operations currently expanding in North West and Central Europe, the Americas and Asia-Pacific. He is supported by a worldwide network of regional business unit leaders.
Crucial Experience
Applus+ Group CEO Fernando Basabe says: “Iain Light brings decades of crucial business leadership experience to Applus RTD, accrued in the UKCS and Scandinavian North Sea and beyond, and a clear track record of success with some of the world’s most respected safety and integrity providers. His vision matches our ambition, to grow Applus RTD to become the world’s leading provider of asset integrity services through investment in our established key areas of activity, and expansion into new global markets.”
Improving Standards
Light comments: “It’s an exciting time for the business – across the energy and utilities sectors, there is a focus on improving standards and ensuring compliance across production-intensive and high-risk assets such as upstream and downstream infrastructure, FPSOs and onshore plants. There is a renewed global focus and rising demand for asset integrity assurance following incidents such as the Fukushima and Deepwater Horizon disasters.”
Continued Exploration
He continues: “The nuclear renaissance led by France, alongside continued exploration in mature as well as new energy regions through advanced subsea technology and a major rise in the FPSO market, mean that demand is unlikely to decrease. Our recent acquisition of both AIM-listed Velosi – a leading provider of inspection, quality assurance, certification and testing services to the oil and gas industries – and the Brazilian market leader Qualitec by Applus+ Group, puts us in a strong position to capitalise on those opportunities.”
“My goal is to streamline Applus+ RTD’s global regions, with our local business units operating as one team, supporting and complementing one another as we embark on a major three-year growth strategy.”