News

Changes at the helm of FoundOcean

March 2024 was a busy month for the company with a number of exciting changes taking place in the FoundOcean leadership team.

After almost 19 years as MD, Jim Bell has moved into a new role within our parent company, Venterra Group, as Integration Director (Build). Jim will still be involved in the work of FoundOcean, along with the other Venterra Group companies in the Build phase, namely Balltec, Osbit, and CAPE Holland.

We say a heartfelt thank you to Jim for his long years of service, guiding our company through all kinds of change, not least the green energy transition, and leading us to the strong position we are in today as part of Venterra Group.

Kerr Wright, formerly Director of Operations, has now taken on the mantle of Managing Director. Kerr has already been at the company for 11 years and has directly managed some of FoundOcean’s largest projects, such as West of Duddon Sands, Solan, and the topside removal of Brent Bravo, as well as providing technical guidance and oversight on offshore wind farm projects such as Hohe See, Beatrice, and East Anglia One.

We are also welcoming (back) a new Global Business Director, Paul Burns. Paul has worked for FoundOcean before, originally back in the days of Wimpey Laboratories, Wimpey Geotech and Seamark Systems, and more recently as Operations Director from 2010-2016. Now that the offshore wind boom is truly global and our reach is far beyond the North Sea and European waters, Paul will bring his wealth of knowledge and expertise as we continue to grow the business.

March was also a month when we said goodbye to a long-serving colleague, Martin Hardy, Technical Director, who has been at FoundOcean (on and off) for more than forty years. Martin worked with both Jim Bell and Paul Burns back ‘in the old days’, and within the business they were known as ‘The Wimpets’. We wish Martin a long and happy retirement.

With Martin leaving and Kerr stepping into Jim’s shoes, Oliver Young, who first joined FoundOcean as a Project Engineer in 2020, now moves into the role of Technical Manager, where he will be supporting both the Operations and Commercial teams on a technical basis. 

We are very proud of the fact that people who work here often choose to stay a long time, or go elsewhere for some different experiences and then want to come back to FoundOcean. Although there have been several changes in job titles and responsibilities, the sense of continuity is strong and the company’s future is certainly in very safe hands.

We’re excited to continue growing and strengthening our team and offering as part of Venterra and to play our part in helping wind power grow.

 

Read the Venterra Group's news release here.

“When the winds of change blow, some people build walls and others build windmills.” – Chinese proverb

We are very pleased to announce some important changes in the company. Jim Bell, MD since 2005, is moving up to our parent company, Venterra Group, where he will take on the position of Integration Director (Build). This means Jim will maintain some involvement in our work here at FoundOcean, along with the other member companies in the Build division, namely Osbit, Balltec and CAPE Holland. Congratulations, Jim! Thank you for your long years of service and incredible leadership.

Stepping into Jim’s shoes is Kerr Wright. Kerr has been with us for twelve years and Operations Director for the last four. Congratulations, Kerr! Exciting times lie ahead as we create a more sustainable future through our offshore structural grouting in the green energy transition.