Page 54 - Impiantistica Italiana

INTERVIEW

More specifically, to strengthen our EPC from renewable sources, particularly those ANIMP. How can ANIMP help you?
business both in upstream and downstre- with complimentary process engineering Foremost, we need recognition of our
am segments, with particular emphasis on technology such as waste-to-energy. We company and of our skills. Secondly, we
projects which are ‘developed’ rather than are focusing on key clients in order to ac- are an ideal springboard to bring Italian
through traditional tendering routes. quire continuing, repeat business, custo- partners into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
We are looking into the ‘clean energy’ mers with whom we would aspire to be We would very much like to initiate such
arena, large projects to convert energy long-term, reliable partners. discussions soon.
We also want to leverage and
strengthen our design and engine-
ering capability. We already have a
centre with 250 staff in the King-
dom, and with our acquisition of
ABB’s Oil & Gas EPC business, that
number is set to grow to 500, com-
bining both the centres in Khobar
and Milan.
I am really excited about the futu-
re opportunities in the Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia and internationally,
and believe our strategy has posi-
tioned us well to be the partner of
choice in the EPC sector.
Lastly, your dream – or what did I for-
First impressions? get to ask?
Very positive. I very much enjoy the I have articulated our vision, namely to be-
working atmosphere and entrepre- come a high quality, international arm of a
neurial spirit of my new colleagues. Saudi business conglomerate. We intend
There are plenty of challenges for to grow the business and anchor it in Mi-
sure, but I am confident that Arkad- lan, we aspire to be a major force in the in-
ABB will be a successful endeavor. ternational EPC market. Most importantly,
we will grow our employment base, both
We are very pleased to see in Milan and internationally – in the end, all
Arkad-ABB Headquarter that you have elected to stay in businesses are about people!

David Gowans

David Gowans, a mechanical engineering graduate from Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, Scotland, currently CEO of
Arkad-ABB.
He has spent his entire working life in the Oil & Gas industry, starting as a design draftsman and taking roles as a mechanical en-
gineer, project engineer and project manager with offshore service companies and oil and gas production companies, including
Mobil and Philips Petroleum. A move to Brown & Root Production Services led initially to deployment in senior management
roles in integrated services contracts with Conoco and Hydrocarbons Resources Ltd in the UK southern sector, before transfer-
ring to Canada for the challenging Hibernia project. After first-oil, a transfer to Dubai with Brown & Root to manage the Dubai
Petroleum contract in 2001 established his strong affinity to the Middle East, where he is still based. Seven years managing
AMEC interests in UAE followed, then five years growing Atkins oil and gas engineering business in the Middle East has provided
him with a very broad Energy Services experience. Despite his oil and gas heritage, he is a passionate supporter of clean energy
from renewable sources as the future of the energy industry. He believes that our industry needs a radical realignment in terms
of client / supplier relationships to address the challenges of climate change, cost reduction and to encourage investment of
development funds into new projects and new frontiers.

52 Impiantistica Italiana - Novembre-Dicembre 2018