Atkinson Macleod Appoints Energy & Natural Resources Practice Leader
March 23, 2018 – Atkinson Macleod Executive Search has named Chris Grange as director to lead its energy and natural resources business. His new role will allow the firm to expand its offerings in the energy, oil and gas and natural resources markets, focusing on Scotland, the U.K. and Europe.
Mr. Grange, who is based in Aberdeen, Scotland, has 27 years of experience placing candidates at a variety of levels, specializing in the oil and gas sector. Most recently, he was a principal for both the oil and gas and Scotland search practices at Odgers Berndtson, since 2011. Early in his career, he worked for Hudson Global Resources in Sydney, heading the engineering, property, construction and natural resources team, and delivering record revenue delivery and five-year high quarter results. He then joined Downing Teal as general manager, New South Wales. In 2009, Mr. Grange was appointed as director of Hays International’s U.K. oil and gas division.
Energy Sector Rebounding
“I am delighted to join the Atkinson McLeod team as I believe in the client focused ethos of the business,” said Mr. Grange. “It has a great corporate infrastructure and culture, with a growth agenda in place; however it is not dictated by onerous processes and procedures, so we can approach assignments in a way that most suits the client. We have already secured search mandates in oil and gas, including signing terms with one of the large E&P operators in Aberdeen, and I look forward to continuing on these early successes.”
“We are seeing a gradual increase in confidence in the oil and gas marketplace, and now is the right time to be expanding, so that we are able to provide the appropriate level of service our clients and candidates expect,” said Mr. Grange. “We have offices throughout Scotland with strong networks in the U.K. and International markets and an excellent track record of identifying, attracting and securing outstanding candidates for our clients.”
Atkinson Macleod Executive Search, based in Edinburgh and with offices in Glasgow and Aberdeen, provides executive and non-executive board-level and senior management-level search and selection services to companies across the U.K. and internationally. The firm was formed last year by search industry veterans Ian Macleod and Paul Atkinson.
Even In a Deep Downturn, Energy Sector Seeks Leadership
A number of energy specialist recruiters polled by Hunt Scanlon Media recently said “economic uncertainty” and “political volatility” were having a significant impact on petroleum and natural gas companies, but new leadership requirements were surfacing as a result.
Energy Sector Seeking Top Talent
A report issued by ManpowerGroup, “Strategies to Fuel the Energy Workforce,” found that 58 percent of energy executives said they struggle to find the talent they need and 74 percent believe the problem will worsen over the next five years. Job categories identified as being in greatest demand included field workers, skilled trades, and highly educated professionals.
The study also found that the talent shortage may already be slowing growth and expansion throughout the sector. By some estimates, there will be three million energy sector jobs by 2020. In the utilities subsector, where half of the workforce is already over the age of 40 — 100,000 net new jobs are projected. Many of the positions, according to recruiters, will require tech-savvy candidates to keep pace with future developments.
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor; and Andrew W. Mitchell, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
