International engineering services group Babcock has confirmed a major board reshuffle.
Long-serving group finance director Bill Tame is moving to head up the enlarged International division and will have responsibility for operations in South Africa and business development in the Middle East.
He will also oversee the development of helicopter services firm Avincis, which Babcock bought over in a £1.6 billion deal earlier this year following a £1.1bn markets cash call.
Avincis has a strong presence in Scotland through its north-east based Bond offshore, which provides a range of services to the oil and gas industry in the North Sea.
The firm also leased the Police Scotland helicopter which crashed into the Clutha Bar in Glasgow last year.
Babcock which employs more than 1,700 staff at its base at Rosyth dockyard, where the first of the UK’s new Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers has just been completed said group financial controller Franco Martinelli would take over in Mr Tame’s old role and join the group’s board as an executive director.
Both moves will take effect from August 1.
“For the past 12 years Bill has provided excellent financial leadership for the group as it has grown and developed,” Babcock CEO Peter Rogers said.
“I look forward to continuing to work with him as he progresses the significant opportunities for the enlarged International division and the group following the Avincis acquisition.
Chairman Mike Turner said the changes demonstrated the strength in depth of Babcock’s senior management team.
He said: “Bill will provide strong leadership for the International division.
“Franco has a depth of knowledge of the financial management of the group and will provide continuity and effective management across all areas of the group’s finance function and I look forward to welcoming him to the board.”
At the firm’s annual meeting earlier this month, Babcock told investors the current financial year had started well, with high activity levels in key markets.
The group revealed that its order book had increased to £13.5bn, including a £2bn boost from Avincis-related contracts.