Pharos Offshore Group, a leading employer based in Blyth, Northumberland, is positioned for a new era of growth under the direction of a new managing director.

Sourced by expert recruiter, Peter Neal of The Experience Bank Group who specialises in high level and board recruitment for SMEs in the region, Russell Edmondson is delighted to join the company which has traded for some twenty years under the guidance of founder and CEO Phil Walker.

Pharos Offshore Group is the partner of choice for specialist equipment, manpower and engineering in the subsea pipeline, cable installation and burial industry. The company provides fully manned assets and expertise across the 4 major marine markets [Offshore Wind, Renewables, Telecommunications and O&G], working with some of the largest EPCI and specialist installation contractors in the offshore wind and telecoms sectors.

Ian Bryan, chair of the board at Pharos Offshore Group, recognised how intrinsic to the successful evolution of the company’s future strategy this appointment was, and having reached out to a number of recruiters, he asked Peter to find the right candidate.

Russell brings with him to the role in-depth experience as an executive in the offshore and construction industries and throughout the recruitment process demonstrated his ability to use his diverse commercial background to facilitate growth whilst focusing on financial, technology and stakeholder needs. Ian explained why Russell was the ideal choice:

‘Peter presented us with a number of candidates all of which would have been perfectly capable of delivering the new MD role within Pharos. Russell stood out to us because as well as having sector knowledge, he demonstrated a passion for people and in doing business well for the good of all concerned. This fits with the ethos of our founder, Phil Walker, perfectly and at this crucial stage of moving into a growth era, it is necessary that there is that same rapport on values amongst the senior leadership team.

“Having known Peter for several years, I expected nothing less of him than to find the ideal person. As well as being well established, he has great connections, takes the time to understand where your company is going, he is trustworthy and has a solid, no-nonsense approach that delivers time and again. This level of appointment carries a huge responsibility, but throughout the process Peter helped assure that every box necessary was ticked.”

Experience Bank Group incorporates The Experience Bank philanthropic, social enterprise company along with a commercial venture providing three symbiotic services - EB Board Level Recruitment, EB High Performing Boards and EB Continuous Personal Development.

With this combination of specialist expertise, the Experience Bank Group is uniquely positioned to help organisations ensure they have not only the right skills in the leadership team and boardroom but also optimum board performance with higher value creation.

Peter said: “Pharos Offshore Group has traded well for some 20 years and grown successfully over more recent years. It is now prime d to move to the next level and for that they needed a specific person, with experience of working within an organisation growing from owner managed to being a purpose led enterprise.

“Russell stood out to me as a real opportunity for the existing management team to have as part of the future organisation and I am delighted that they agreed. I wish Russell and Pharos all the best as they embark on this next chapter together.”

5% of all revenue from Experience Bank Group is gifted to The Experience Bank social enterprise to enable more start-ups, early-stage businesses, charities and social enterprises access to high quality, advisory and non-executive talent.

If you are keen to know more visit www.theexperiencebank.co.uk or call Peter on 07843 329393.