Decom North Sea (DNS), the offshore oil and gas decommissioning forum, appointed a new chief executive to lead the organisation as it further strengthens its position as the representative body for the decommissioning industry.

Nigel Jenkins will take up the post on July 1 and replaces Brian Nixon, who is retiring after playing an instrumental role in establishing DNS as the voice of the decommissioning sector.

Jenkins previous roles include board leadership positions with AMEC and AECOM and most recently as board director with KDC Contractors, which has a long and successful track record of working on decommissioning projects on and offshore. He also served as a director with DNS from 2011 to 2013.

DNS Chairman Murdo MacIver, Director Offshore Group for Peterson, said: “Nigel is a proven leader with the experience to help set the vision and strategic direction for Decom North Sea as the market develops. He brings wide experience of collaborative working in the Oil and Gas, Nuclear, Water, Telecoms and Manufacturing industries. We are confident Nigel will add vital new perspectives, insight, skills and experience to Decom North Sea to the benefit of its members and other stakeholders.’’

He added “The team at Decom North Sea have made tremendous progress in bringing it to the stage is has become the recognised body for the Decommissioning supply chain under Brian Nixon’s leadership. On behalf of the Board and myself, I would also like to take this opportunity to extend our thanks to Brian for his tireless work and support in achieving this over the last four years and wish him the very best for the future.’’

Jenkins said: “I am excited about the future of offshore decommissioning. The recent Wood Review highlighted the need for operators, the supply chain and regulators to work together to develop innovative decommissioning solutions, maximising the value derived from the North Sea. Decom North Sea has become the representative body for the industry and is uniquely positioned to meet this challenge. I am looking forward to leading the organisation through this fascinating period.’’

Latest estimates forecast a spend on decommissioning activity of $68.3 billion by 2040, with the total cost of decommissioning in the next five years in the UKCS alone expected to be around $7.6 billion focusing on 40 platforms, showing that decommissioning will continue to rise in prominence in the coming years.

DNS is the only organisation dedicated to bringing operators, the supply chain and other stakeholders together to develop innovative and efficient solutions for offshore asset decommissioning.