New appointment at Sparrows Group

The Sparrows Group has boosted its senior management team with the appointment of an experienced director to head up its operations across the Americas.

Steve Bertone joins the global leader in the provision of engineered products and services in the specialist areas of lifting and handling, cable and pipelay, and fluid power to the offshore oil and gas industry, after 33 years with McDermott International.

In his new role, Bertone will be based in Houston and will oversee all of Sparrows Group’s operations in the US, Brazil, Mexico and the Caribbean.

Bertone said: “The Americas is a region that presents a wealth of exciting opportunities for a well-respected business like Sparrows Group. The company has been operating here for many years and the specialist knowledge and excellent reputation for quality and value will provide a good foundation for further growth.

“I am joining a talented team in a region where demand is growing for our services. The Sparrows Group has a wealth of engineering capabilities and this expertise is increasingly being used to support clients to optimise their efficiency by improving the performance, reliability and safety of their critical equipment and people.”

Before joining Sparrows Group, Bertone was McDermott’s Vice President of Marine Operations and has held the roles of country manager for Qatar and Saudi Arabia. He has an engineering background and graduated with a Masters from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in the state of New York.

Sparrows Group has had a presence in the US since 1999 and works across the Gulf of Mexico as the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) for a number of crane brands. The company also has a joint venture, SparrowsBSM, in Brazil, and a partnership in Mexico.

In the US, Sparrows Group operates over five sites. The company has office, workshop and fabrication facilities in Houston and at Abbeville, Broussard, Houma and Slidell in Louisanna.

In total, Sparrows Group employs around 440 people in its Americas region and 2100 globally.

Stewart Mitchell, Sparrows Group Chief Executive Officer, said: “Steve’s experience of working in a variety of operational and leadership roles in the areas of offshore engineering, marine construction and project management made him an ideal fit for the Sparrows Group. His unique mix of technical, operational and financial skills means he brings with him extensive knowledge and expertise which will be invaluable in the growth of our US business”.

Adapted from press release by Hannah Priestley-Eaton

Read the article online at: https://www.worldpipelines.com/business-news/15062015/new-appointment-at-sparrows-group/