The move follows the opening last year of an office in Bahrain, as a result of customer demand, establishing a direct presence in the region. The Bahrain and Saudi Arabian offices will serve these markets direct as well as supporting Furmanite’s existing licensees in the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait to ensure that the full breadth of Furmanite on-site and on-line services is available to customers throughout the region, coupled with its high technical and safety standards.

These services include hot tapping and line stopping, composite repair, on-line pressure leak sealing, Trevitest on-line safety/relief valve testing, valve repair, and on-site machining, among others. They allow vital maintenance to be undertaken without shutdown, avoid unscheduled downtime, and keep planned shutdowns to a minimum, representing high value to operators by helping them keep their assets operating.

McKay took up his post as general manager of Furmanite’s Middle East operation from July. His role will include developing expertise locally, and building and managing a business (which will encompass both the Bahrain and Saudi companies) with the sales, operations and engineering resources to support effective delivery of the full Furmanite offering to the Middle East market, with a view to becoming the first port of call for customers in the region.

McKay is supported by manager Khairy Ahmed, who has been leading Furmanite’s Bahrain operation and has an in-depth knowledge of the Middle East market. Additionally, Furmanite Middle East has a local team of fully qualified and experienced technicians, all Suitably Qualified and Experienced Personnel (SQEP) trained. The operation is also fully supported by the UK, with additional resource where required.

McKay has been with Furmanite International in the UK for some eight years, initially in a sales management role with responsibility for the Aberdeen region and specifically the offshore sector. Latterly his role has been one of business development, particularly in the offshore oil exploration and production sector, covering territories from West Africa and the Caspian to South America.

With a strong background in the oil and gas industry on and offshore, and extensive international experience, McKay has strong, in-depth technical knowledge and an ability to understand customers’ needs and identify the solutions to meet these. He also has a sound business management background having previously run a valve and process control equipment company, Transmac Group Ltd, and has lived in for two years in Dubai, UAE.

Commenting on McKay’s appointment Furmanite International managing director Paul Brown said: “Graham is well suited and ideally qualified to head up Furmanite’s Middle East operation as general manager, both in terms of building and managing the business, and continuing to develop a strong Furmanite presence in the region. He is well placed to drive substantial growth and build a significant business, by ensuring that the company is in the best possible position to service its customers and meet their needs effectively and efficiently.”

McKay added: “We have a valuable contribution to offer industry operators in the Middle East to help them keep their assets operating and earning. As we extend our direct presence in the region we are better placed to offer our full range of services with optimum speed and efficiency, to the high quality and rigorous safety standards for which Furmanite is well known, to ensure our customers get the very highest level of service. My initial focus is very much on getting our Saudi office operational in the coming weeks. I look forward to the role, the challenges and the opportunities ahead.”

Furmanite Middle East can be contacted on +973 1773 5678 or infome@furmanite.com

Sarah Manwaring-White, Keep in Touch Ltd,
Tel: +44 (0)1451 844 488
Email: sarah_mw@keepintouch.co.uk