Scotland-based ROVOP, an independent provider of subsea remotely-operated vehicles (ROVs), has appointed Daniel Wheeler as its new president for the Americas, as it gears up for significant growth across the region. He will lead the company from its US base in Houston.

ROVOP has already won contracts in the oil and gas sector in the region, including it’s first contract with Sapura Energy to provide trenching and survey support off Mexico.

A US Navy veteran, Mr Wheeler has worked in the ROV industry for more than 13 years in various roles including ROV supervisor, technical manager and vice president of business development. Most recently, he was business acquisitions manager at Helix Remote Services.

With several new contracts in the pipeline, ROVOP has also embarked on a recruitment drive to increase the 30-strong US-based headcount by at least 50%, to support future and existing clients, as well as ongoing work for a major Tier One contractor on projects around the world.

Until recently, the focus in North America has primarily been on oil and gas, but the company is now targeting new opportunities in the emerging offshore renewables sector, particularly offshore wind.

Mr Wheeler said: “With the new focus on green energy in the USA, the offshore wind sector will present huge opportunities on both the east and west coasts. ROVOP’s proven capability has supported windfarm developments in the North Sea and across the globe, so we already have the skills and expertise that are transferrable to our renewables work in the USA.”

Since opening its 22,000ft² facility in Houston in 2015, ROVOP has seen year-on-year growth with revenue rising to $10 million and the company is predicting that will grow to $16 million within the next three years.

Mr Wheeler continued: “We have a very strong presence in the USA and South America, we are working in the US Gulf and in Mexico and in Trinidad and Tobago and we are about to step up activity in Brazil.”

“Globally, beyond its operations in the Americas, the company operates across Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific, servicing multiple sectors with an international team of skilled personnel and a fleet of more than 40 ROVs around the world. We are well-positioned to provide support for the global energy industry including the renewables sector.

“I want to build on the existing foundations which have already been established here. There is huge growth potential across the Americas and my focus will be on growing our business and taking it to the next level.

“We are turning the corner from the downturn, the renewables industry is starting to take off in the USA and with that, along with the oil and gas market we have here, I see a bright future ahead.”