Bristow announces senior redundancies during “challenging times”
Bristow Group today announced the departure of Jeremy Akel, senior vice-president and chief operating officer, Mike Imlach, vice-president of global operations and Mike Sim, vice-president of business development. The company is also eliminating the chief operating officer position in a streamlining move.
As part of this new organisational structure, Chet Akiri has been named acting senior vice-president of operations and chief commercial officer reporting to group president and chief executive, Jonathan Baliff.
Baliff said:
“The current downturn in our industry is likely to further impact capital spending by our clients in fiscal 2017. As a result, in order to improve our safety performance, maintain our leadership position and sustain our long-term success, we have actively taken the additional and necessary steps to strengthen the business during these challenging times.
“These changes flatten our corporate leadership team structure, provide me with closer oversight of the operations and help us drive further revenue enhancements and cost reductions that are required. I would like to thank Jeremy, Mike and Mike for their years of service and contributions to Bristow and wish them much success in their future endeavors.”
In his new role, Akiri will merge corporate strategy and diversification with the other commercial areas of the company, including oil and gas business development, that further benefit Bristow’s customers and increase its competitiveness. Akiri will oversee operations on an interim basis while a search is underway for a new senior vice-president of global operations.
Akiri joined Bristow in 2014 as Senior vice-president and chief corporate development, new ventures and strategy officer. Prior to joining the company, Akiri led strategic, commercial and operations planning and implementation in senior management positions at General Electric (GE).
He served as chief operating officer for Global Nuclear Fuels America, and vice-president and general manager of GE Hitachi Parts Services.
