ROVOP names Americas chief as it steps up focus on region’s renewables market

Independent provider of subsea remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) ROVOP has appointed Daniel Wheeler as its new president for the Americas.

Wheeler will lead the company in Houston as it prepares for its next phase of strategic growth and diversification across the region.

The growth comes on the back of a number of recent contract wins in the oil and gas sector, including ROVOP’s first contract with Sapura Energy to provide trenching and survey support off Mexico.

A U.S. Navy veteran, Wheeler has worked in the ROV industry for more than 13 years across various roles. Most recently, Wheeler worked as a business acquisitions manager at Helix Remote Services.     

With several new contracts now in the pipeline, ROVOP has embarked on an active recruitment campaign to increase the 30-strong Houston-based headcount by at least 50%, to support future and existing clients.

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.

Wheeler said: “With the new focus on green energy in the United States, 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 United States”.

Since opening its new 22,000 square-foot-facility in Houston in 2015, ROVOP has seen year on year growth with revenue rising to $10 million, with growth predictions to $16 million within the next three years, according to the company.