Management Team

James Bell, Managing Director

James began his engineering career in 1989 when he joined the Wimpey Construction Group. He worked in heavy civil engineering and highway construction prior to settling into the Wimpey Laboratories offshore division. He then spent 3 years with London Underground on the construction of the Jubilee Line Extension Project, following which he was recruited by Oil States Industries where he worked as EMEA Sales Manager. James moved to FoundOcean as Managing Director where he has implemented major strategic changes resulting in a significant expansion of the business.

James has been involved with numerous technically challenging projects including the Conoco Joliett TLWP, Exxon Diana Truss Spar riser system, Umm Shaif Gas Development project, ConocoPhillips Ekofisk strengthening, BP CATS pipeline repair and the pile flotation & upending system for the AIOC Azeri Field development.

James holds a degree in Civil Engineering from London’s City University.

Martin Hardy, Commercial and Technical Director

Martin began his career at Wimpey Laboratory, part of George Wimpey PLC in 1983. He has been directly involved with many of the major offshore projects both in the North Sea and around the world. His first project as a graduate Engineer was Conoco Hutton, the world’s first Tension Leg Platform. He was also involved in its decommissioning and removal in 2003.

As Technical Director Martin is responsible for the ongoing development of FoundOcean’s wide range of plant, from grout mixers to flooded member inspection equipment and has been behind many of the key technological breakthroughs the company has made in the past 20 years. In addition he provides advice to clients who are facing significant technical challenges. As Commercial Director, Martin ensures that FoundOcean delivers services to its clients in a low risk, best value manner through his management of  the tendering process. 

Martin holds a degree in Civil Engineering from Portsmouth University.

John Hudson, Client Services Director

John’s engineering career began in 1975 when he joined the Wimpey Construction Group. He worked in the civil engineering department, and was involved in motorway and bridge construction, and airfields and oil storage terminal construction, prior to transferring to the offshore division of Wimpey Laboratories.

He has been involved with many major projects worldwide including the development of techniques for deepwater pipeline freespan correction using ROVs and fabric formworks, procedures for grouting deepwater compliant-tower jackets, development of solid ballasting techniques and procedures, and underbase grouting techniques for gravity based structures.

John holds responsibility for high-level business development, technical supervision of project management and quality assurance

John has an HND in Civil Engineering from Sheffield Polytechnic, and is an Associate member of the Chartered Institute of Quality Assurance.

Paul Burns, Operations Director

Paul has extensive experience of managing operations and implementing HSE systems in both onshore and offshore grouting.

He worked for FoundOcean in its former guises (Wimpey Laboratories and SeaMark Systems). He was a Contracts Engineer for Wimpey Laboratories and later became Contracts Manager and Health and Safety Manager at SeaMark Systems. He moved to Consolidate as Operations Director following the demerger of SeaMark Systems’ onshore grouting business.

Paul's focus will be on plant investment strategy, personnel organisation, training, safety and integration with overseas partners

Paul holds a Masters in Construction Management from Liverpool University and is a Chartered Member of the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health.

Damien Murphy, Engineering Director

Damien began his career in the engineering department at Liebherr Container Cranes before joining FoundOcean in 2007 as a Mechanical Engineer. In 2009 he was promoted to Engineering Manager and Engineering Director in late 2010. He takes on responsibility for the design and build of all new grouting plant and the refurbishment and improvement of existing plant. Damien also has overall responsibility for the testing laboratory and project trials.

Damien’s offshore career spans notable projects including a large-scale member reinforcement project on three platforms in the Norwegian sector, the world’s deepest pipeline support grout bag and the installation of a tidal turbine in the Fall of Warness (Orkney).

Damien has a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Limerick.

Neil Smith, Finance and HR Director

Since qualifying as a Chartered Accountant in 1994 Neil has held senior management positions in various SME companies in industries including aviation and construction. Neil has led a number of M&A transactions and negotiated substantial amounts of bank finance whilst building and developing his finance teams and implementing and installing company-wide ERP systems. Most recently Neil has acted as a consultant director for a portfolio of clients including FoundOcean, and joined its Board of Directors in September 2011 full-time to assist in the rapid expansion of the business.

Neil is an associate member of both the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and the Chartered Institute of Marketing, holds a Bachelors degree in Management Systems, a Cranfield MBA and a Post-graduate diploma in Marketing.

Andy Venn, Marketing Director

Andy began his career as a mechanical engineering apprentice with British Rail Engineering Limited in the 1980’s. After completing his apprenticeship he moved into CNC machining and later CNC tooling design. In 2003 Andy moved to Switzerland within a division of one of the world’s largest and most diversified specialty metals producers as European Sales Administration Manager and later as their European Marketing Manager.

As Marketing Director Andy is responsible for the company’s business development in both the Oil & Gas and Renewable Energy sectors, as well as being responsible for the organisations marketing and communication policies. Andy has a degree in Engineering Design and Change Management from the Open University.

Keith Miller, Chairman

Keith has been with FoundOcean for 28 years. He has been involved with all aspects of business and corporate development and is the majority shareholder.

Keith has been involved with various technically challenging problem solving projects including  Technip’s Terra Nova, Shell’s Gannet bundle re-insulation, ConocoPhillips’s Ekofisk pipeline protection and Aker Solutions’ Sakhalin installation. Recently he has been involved in the Renewables areas particularly wind, wave and tidal energy.

Keith holds a bachelors degree in Physics and a masters degree in Management Studies and is an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Cost and Management Accountants.

Francis Bartlett, Corporate Affairs Director

Francis’ career began as a graduate accountant, who trained as a consultant at Coopers Lybrand (now PwC) initially specialising in operational research and later in large scale accounting & management control systems; He was later a Principal for Ernst & Young’s consulting arm. He was Group Accounting Controller of George Wimpey plc and Financial Director of the Lewis Group of engineering and contracting companies.

Francis started his tenure with FoundOcean in 2001 as a consultant taking a board position in 2005. During this time Francis has acted as a mentor and advisor to the organisation on change-management, corporate finance business planning and management strategy.