Luis Araujo and Erik Wiik have been appointed regional managers for Aker Solutions in Brazil and North America respectively. The regional managers will develop a common Aker Solutions strategy and co-ordinate customer approach in the regions. They will report to Aker Solutions’ CEO.
The appointment supports Aker Solutions’ growth ambition and provides increased visibility for the oilfield products, systems and services company in key markets. The regional manager will work with the business units in the region, co-ordinating regional expansion plans, aligning business strategies and be a common voice on industry affairs.
“ Our company is built on decades of North Sea experience. On this platform of knowledge and technology we have expanded and established a substantial local presence in many key markets around the world. This presence will now be further strengthened. We want to be closer to our customers, not only as individual businesses, but also as one company ,” says Øyvind Eriksen, executive chairman of Aker Solutions.
“ I am pleased that Luis Araujo has decided to join us in Aker Solutions, and I look forward to working with him as regional manager for Brazil and Erik Wiik in his new role as regional manager for North America, ” Eriksen says.
More regional managers will be appointed later. According to Eriksen, it has not yet been decided which country or region will go next, but he points to West Africa and the Middle East as two regions where Aker Solutions so far has not succeeded in establishing a strong local presence beyond individual projects.
Luis Araujo (52) lives in Rio de Janeiro and has over 28 years of experience in the industry, most recently as chief executive officer for Wellstream, a pipeline products company with a wide range of pipe solutions. He has also had leading positions with ABB, Coflexip, Vetco and FMC Technologies. He holds a Bachelor degree in Mechanical Engineering from Brazil and an MBA from Edinburgh University, UK.
Erik Wiik (47) lives in Houston and has worked in the oil and gas industry for 22 years, the last 11 years in the United States. He comes from the position as President of Aker Solutions’ Subsea business in North America. He has previously been in charge of corporate initiatives within project risk management, served as business unit president of well services and held managerial roles within construction, engineering and procurement. He is an engineering graduate of Texas A&M University.
[mappress] Source: Aker Solutions, November 02, 2011