Listed labour hire, recruitment, training and diversified services provider Integrated Group Ltd’s new CEO Christopher Sutherland believes more than two decades in the engineering world sets him in good stead to run the West Perth-based business.
Mr Sutherland has been winding down his role as executive director, asset services at listed engineering group WorleyParsons Ltd, to take up the position in February next year.
He has been with WorleyParsons for the past two years and is one of 28 people on its global management executive team – which he said was a largely corporate role managing long-term contracts with clients after construction was completed.
Mr Sutherland said he had substantial management, operational and leadership experience from past roles in general management positions of key divisions and joint venture in the engineering world.
At Clough Ltd, where has spent a significant part of his career, he occupied senior management positions as chief executive, Clough Services, and general manager, group strategy.
He has also been a director of Mermaid Marine Ltd, as a representative of Clough after it took a major stake in the marine services company, which was mainly focused on the oil and gas industry.
Mr Sutherland said he would bring a broad range of management skills, industry knowledge and networks from the past two and half decades working in engineering.
“Quite a few of the activities Integrated are involved with I have experience with,” Mr Sutherland said.
“Maritime labour is an area I have experience with previously at Mermaid Marine.
“I am also quite familiar with the industrial maintenance side of the business.
“For those reasons I think there is knowledge and experience I can bring, and certainly knowledge of many of Integrated’s clients.”
Mr Sutherland will replace Jon Whittle, who is retiring but will remain on the Integrated board as a non-executive director.
Apart from the core strengths of general management and strategic development, he has experience and expertise in acquisitions, alliances and joint ventures, asset and project management, and provision of services to the offshore oil and gas industry.
Integrated shares have dropped markedly during the year despite the boom in resources where the company operates. From a January high of $2.65, they have slipped to below $1.70 this week.
