News

Press Release – December 2006

Xodus embarks on globalisation plans with Australia office
One of the fastest growing oil and gas consultancies has embarked on plans to establish a substantial operation in Australia. Xodus Group aims to open its doors in Perth, Australia early in the New Year.

Speaking from Australia where he is investigating potential sites and recruiting, director and Group Chairman, Alistair Dornan says: “When we launched in Aberdeen just over a year ago, we had plans to open an international office and have examined several options including Moscow, Kuala Lumpur and Houston. However, we believe the best strategic overseas move for us is to initially have a significant presence in Western Australia.

" The Asia Pacific market is very buoyant and has the potential for rapid growth. There are now many similarities to the mature market here in Aberdeen and we will be using our experience and expertise to exploit the opportunities."

The directors also believe the Australia office opens up opportunities for staff. "With the global skills shortage, there are the same problems recruiting people in Australia as in the UK. However with a great benefits package and an innovative and pro-active approach to recruitment, we are overcoming those challenges. We see the possibility of relocation to and from our Australia office as being particularly attractive to both existing and potential employees at Xodus in Aberdeen and Perth."

The company recently announced that it had exceeded its financial objectives, allowing it to embark on its internationalization plans earlier than expected. The international expansion will be therefore be entirely self funded. Xodus recently celebrated its first year in business with the news that it had reached a turnover of over £4.5 million with a staff of 60.

Press Release – September 2006

Rising oil & gas company hits first anniversary:
Fast-track high growth success for Xodus Group
One year after setting up Xodus Group has surpassed its most ambitious targets. The oil and gas consulting and engineering firm has achieved a turnover of £4 million and is forecast to double in size in year two.

The Aberdeen-based firm, which has ambitious international growth plans, is also looking for a site to establish its worldwide headquarters in the granite city.

“Ideally we are looking for West End Aberdeen offices but with our growth set to continue we are looking for something spacious and believe this will be a major challenge,” says director, Colin Manson.

Backed by the Royal Bank of Scotland with private investment, the multi-disciplined consultancy moved into profit after only its ninth month in business and is now averaging monthly sales of £800,000. Xodus started out with two people, quickly grew to 20 and is currently employing a workforce of 60 engineers, consultants, administrative support personnel and graduate trainees.

Founding directors, Simon Cowie, Colin Manson and Steve Swindell are delighted with the progress. Manson adds: “Xodus has quickly become an established leading independent player in the industry and we have been vindicated in our belief that the market was ripe for a new independent consultancy which focuses on being at the forefront of technological advances.

“We have exceeded our financial objectives and will be embarking on an international strategy earlier than anticipated. The second phase of our aggressive growth will be much more internationally focused and we are currently looking at various overseas locations for a network of offices.”

Formed last September, Xodus quickly announced its arrival in the marketplace by securing contracts worth £1.5 million within three months, building up a client list which included BP, Talisman, Total, Shell, SGS, Marathon and Petro-Canada.

Of the 60-strong workforce, almost 50% come from outwith the area and many from outwith the industry. Manson is proud of their record in attracting and recruiting experienced people.

“We stated at the very beginning that we would recruit from outside the industry as much as possible and we have achieved that with many of our engineers coming from downstream oil and gas, nuclear, pharmaceutical and power industries. In addition, we have lured people from countries such as Nigeria, Iran, Venezuela, Brazil, Malaysia, Ireland and Romania.

“By being committed to high reward, training and development, we have succeeded in attracting high calibre people in a very tight labour market.”

The group is a multi-discipline consultancy specialising in the independent delivery of software products and engineering services that support the upstream oil and gas sector. The Xodus Group comprises three divisions : Xodus Subsea, Xodus Oil & Gas and Xodus Technology.

Press Release – January 2006

Xodus Group appoints new director to front aggressive growth phase
Rising oil and gas consultancy and engineering group Xodus Group is celebrating the arrival of a leading oil and gas figure and highly-successful business manager Alistair Dornan as its 4th director.

Mr Dornan is the latest high-profile director to join the Xodus Group board alongside Colin Manson, Stephen Swindell and Richard Heard.

Xodus Group was formed in September last year and quickly announced its arrival in the marketplace by securing contracts worth £1.5million within three months of being established.

BP, Talisman, Total, Shell, SGS, Marathon, Petro-Canada and Amerada Hess engaged the group across each of its three divisions - Xodus Technology, Xodus Oil and Gas and Xodus Subsea.

Mr Dornan, who brings over 20-years' industry experience, is Xodus Group's second major appointment in two months, following the arrival of Subsea Division director Richard Heard from Andrew Palmer Associates, the Aberdeen operation of Penspen Limited.

His primary role will be further developing the business and guiding it through the second phase of its aggressive growth model, including development of the Group’s overseas strategy, increasing multi-discipline work and securing more staff.

“Bringing someone of Alistair’s caliber onto the board of Xodus is a massive coup. His track record and his exceptional business skills will be invaluable as we move into the second phase of our aggressive business plan,” said founding director Colin Manson.

Stephen Swindell agreed: “Alistair’s arrival will provide the additional high-level direction and management we feel Xodus needs to take us from a high-performing start-up to an established company employing over 60 people, all in our first year!”

Mr Dornan says he is joining the group at a key time: “It is evolving very quickly following a tremendous start-up operation, which is testimony to the quality of the people already on board.

“The reputation being carved-out by Xodus is already clear to see and is largely due to the tremendous team effort put in by everyone since September 2005.

“Xodus has quickly become a leading independent player and the unique rewards, strong culture and values are clearly working as the group continues to attract and retain staff.

“I am delighted to be back in the saddle with a company which offers such great potential for growth, success and fun!”

Sponsored through his mechanical engineering degree at Strathclyde University by Rolls Royce Aero Engines, Mr Dornan was lured into upstream engineering by Shell International on its graduate field engineer scheme.

His career with the firm spanned 10 years, beginning with a move into process engineering which saw him rise quickly through the organisation in fields ranging from process and conceptual design, safety and risk management to construction coordination and project management in several of Shell’s locations.

In 1991, he was selected for Shell’s tailored masters degree in business administration at Henley Management College. He graduated in 1994 while construction manager for Shell operating unit PDO in the central Oman desert.

He returned to the UK in 1995 as the sixth employee of the then-Genesis Engineering in Aberdeen, joining as process manager before being elevated to the overall base manager’s position in April 1996, tasked with growing the business’ size and reputation.

He oversaw Genesis’ ongoing rise after being appointed business unit director in Aberdeen in 1998 and, following its sale to Aker Group later that year (which was ultimately to see Genesis owned by Technip), celebrated a record turnover of $25 million in 2004 as he and his team nurtured its organic growth. Its staff roster grew from 5 to more than 200 during his tenure.

Xodus Group employs engineers and technologists from six different countries including Nigeria, Iran and Venezuela in positions ranging from graduate trainee to senior consultant.

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