Share

Young energy leaders told success is more than just climbing the corporate ladder

THE next generation of oil and gas business leaders have been told there is no secret to having a successful career in the energy sector – only ambition and common sense.

Rupert Soames OBE, Group chief executive of FTSE 100 company Aggreko plc, said a good career is about finding out what you enjoy and doing it to the best of your ability with people you like and respect.

He made the comments as he delivered the keynote address at the 2011 Young Professionals in Oil and Gas Dinner at the Marcliffe Hotel and Spa, in Aberdeen, on November 24th.

Mr Soames, who has had a career spanning more than 30 years, said: “The pyramid is very narrow at the top, not everyone can be the CEO or chairman. When deciding on a career think sector first, company second, job title third. Better by far to be a salesperson working for a boss you respect in the energy sector than being a sales director working for an indolent manager organising package holidays.

“Today I think the energy industry is a far more interesting sector for the ambitious for a number of reasons. First, demand is growing and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. Second, you can ply your trade anywhere in the world; from the frozen poles to the tropics, people need to find, process, distribute and sell energy.

“Thirdly, energy is a sector in which there are opportunities to work for every conceivable form and size of organization. You have endless choice as to the sort of business you want to work for, or indeed start up yourself.

“My last word of advice for the people in their 20’s and 30’s is that if you want to be effective in energy, you have to have an appreciation of the role of government, and what makes it tick. In every country, governments are closely involved in the energy sector, and they have a major influence, for good or ill. Being able to understand and work with government is a key skill for energy industry executives.”

The black tie event, organized by professional service firms Deloitte and McGrigors and sponsored by Brewin Dolphin, followed a series of seminars for young oil and gas professionals running throughout the year.

Mr Soames followed in the footsteps of other leading figures in Scotland, including First Minister Alex Salmond, Sir Ian Wood and the chief executive of Oil and Gas UK, Malcolm Webb, who have all taken on the speakers role in recent years.

Guests at the event were also entertained by Irish hip-hop comedy duo ‘Abandoman’ and proceeds raised from the evening will be donated to the Monty’s Maggie’s Appeal to bring a Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centre to Aberdeen.

Prior to joining Aggreko in 2003, Mr Soames ran the banking software division of Misys plc. Since joining the company eight years ago, the business has grown to be the largest provider of temporary power in the world operating in 100 countries and with 6,000 employees.

Aggreko specialises in providing temporary power plants for utilities, as well as renting power and temperature control equipment to industrial and commercial companies. It is currently providing emergency power generation to utilities in countries such as Japan, Kenya, Angola, Brazil and Argentina.

Mr Soames is also the acting chairman of Electrocomponents PLC, the world's leading high service distributor of electronics and maintenance products.

159 views