Our

People

Unique skill set and personal track records

EXCEED’s management team combines +1000 years of operational industry experience with extensive commercial experience, gained across 60 countries. 

Each of our management team members bring a unique skill set and personal track record, contributing to our position as the industry’s preferred well delivery partner. 

From each of our international bases, we provide in-house engineering capability together with a combined technical and commercial experience relevant to each location. This creates a powerful platform from which to service our clients – regardless of location.

Meet the team

Ian Mills Managing Director

EXCEED’s founding director, Ian, trained and worked as a Marine Engineer from 1978 before transferring into the oil & gas industry in 1985.

He joined Shell International where he completed the Shell Round 1 and 2 training programme and worked internationally as a Senior Drilling Supervisor / Engineer. Ian left Shell in 1998 to join BP, working on deepwater and HPHT exploration wells, and finally as the Technical Limit Leader for the Eastern hemisphere. In this role, he successfully pioneered the delivery of standardised performance and knowledge management solutions for the wells teams.

Ian’s greatest achievement is resolutely driving EXCEED's growth from its origins in 2005 to the breadth, depth and track record that it offers today.

Al Brockie Head of Well Management

A highly skilled wells project manager, Al brings over 30 years of experience as a drilling professional, personally spearheading a number of first wells for BP, Shell, Husky, TPAO and others. Al’s international experience includes remote and harsh locations across four continents and since joining EXCEED in 2009 he has successfully project-managed over 15 wells.

Al’s strengths include an exemplary safety track record, strong drilling leadership and the ability to build high-performing multi-discipline teams – a key factor in EXCEED successfully delivering well management services to its clients.

Fiona van der Vossen Head of Legal / Tax / HR & CSR

Having initially started her career in law, Fiona worked as an International Tax Manager for PriceWaterhouse and Ernst & Young before moving into the oil & gas sector over 10 years ago. Fiona brings a broad wealth of experience to EXCEED, managing their legal and tax affairs both in the UK and internationally. She plays a key role in the planning and implementation of EXCEED's continuous growth in relation to new territories, markets and partnering opportunities.

Fiona also oversees EXCEED's Corporate Social Responsibility activities and in particular their charitable organisation, the EXCEED Trust. A hugely rewarding part of her job and one which she believes makes a genuine difference to the countries that EXCEED operates in.

John Anderson Commercial Director, Wells

John’s well expertise spans 24 years, covering well construction, intervention and decommissioning across the UKCS and internationally. His operational experience - from drilling engineer through to project manager - combines with significant commercial experience. In this, he has been focused upon the internal supply chain and client facing proposals and contracts. This includes extensive exposure to various contracting strategies such as lump sum turnkey and target-based remuneration.

Since joining EXCEED in 2015, John has focused upon EXCEED’s domestic and overseas growth, during which time it has become the world’s largest independent well management company.

Tim Wigham Head of Performance Improvement

With a strong track record in operational leadership, performance coaching and facilitation, Tim is Head of Performance Improvement at EXCEED.

In a competitive market companies are looking for a differentiator, and Tim believes that the performance improvement service that EXCEED can deliver is just that. He passionately believes in empowering people to reach their full potential and gains a great deal of satisfaction when he helps EXCEED clients achieve outstanding performance results.

John Simpson Well Intervention Manager

Having started his career as an Instrument Engineer for British Steel, John transitioned to the Oil & Gas industry 24 years ago joining Expro Group as a Well Test Supervisor. In his role John is responsible for the delivery of DST’s, completions, workovers, interventions and decommissioning projects from conceptional design through to operation completion and close out.

John is an experienced well test engineer and team leader who brings a high degree of professionalism and can-do attitude to any project – delivering on EXCEED's commitment to go above and beyond ensuring the best possible results for clients.

Catherine Jones Resourcing Lead

With a background in recruitment consultancy, Catherine has worked at EXCEED, as a Resourcing Lead, for five years and is responsible for resourcing all wells and performance improvement projects. Recruiting for on and offshore positions, Catherine is the focal point for all contractors pre, during and post mobilisation.

With an ever-increasing headcount in staff and contracted personnel, every day is different. Catherine’s role provides her with a diverse and challenging job as she contributes to other areas of the business such as competency, management systems and international tenders.

Catherine is the team’s “people person”, understanding how each individual ticks and how to pull together the most efficient team. People are EXCEED’s priority and there is a strong focus on team building and ensuring everyone feels part of the EXCEED family.

Derek Wasyliszyn Financial Controller

Derek is one of the first members of the EXCEED team, starting his career as Office Manager before progressing into his current role as Financial Controller.

EXCEED’s growth has given Derek the opportunity to develop professionally and be involved in a variety of projects. His role is exceptionally varied and crosses all streams of the business, having regular input into tenders, and the HR and IT functions. Forecasting is an important part of Derek’s role, not only helping to set the strategic direction of the business but to look at better ways of making the business more efficient.

Bart Van De Laar Head of Decommissioning

An IMechE chartered mechanical engineer, Bart brings over 20 years’ operational and strategic experience to his role. A highly-respected problem solver, his expertise covers all stages of the well lifecycle, and has ensured that he is highly valued by clients and stakeholders alike.

With a particular focus upon late life and decommissioning since 2015, Bart has been operationally instrumental in some of the North Sea’s highest profile decommissioning projects, whilst developing EXCEED’s decommissioning portfolio to the extent that we are at the forefront of North Sea activity, and now sharing our expertise across emerging international decom markets.

Kwaku Darko-Mensah Country Manager, Well Management Ghana

Hailing from Ghana, Kwaku is passionate about the impact EXCEED has in the country; both from a commercial and local development perspective.

His previous experience at CONSHIP, SMTC Ghana, and the Charkin Maritime and Offshore Safety Centre, has allowed Kwaku to hone his organisational management and safety training skills within the offshore environment. Together with a strong commercial awareness, his operational understanding of the well management sector is essential to EXCEED’s continued in-country success.

Mike Wright QHSE Manager

With over 15 years of industry experience, Mike has a worked globally across many industries including oil and gas, renewables and construction. He has extensive experience of engaging with regulators, from mature legislative regimes - such as the UKCS - to those of developing countries, ensuring Well Operatorships and permitting are achieved efficiently and in plenty of time.

EXCEED’s HSE-focused mindset ensures that Mike has input at a strategic and operational level; ensuring that no two days are the same! Whether it’s meeting government agencies in-country for a well management project or completing travel risk assessments, it’s this variety that he enjoys.

Mike joined EXCEED three years ago and oversees all aspects of the company’s QHSE.

Jim Doran Managed Pressure Drilling Manager

Having worked in oil and gas for over 20 years, Jim has a wealth of drilling, well integrity, production and supply chain experience, with a strong technical background in managed pressure drilling (MPD).

Jim started his career as an Underbalanced Drilling & Well Test Operator for a specialist service provider. His global remit in this role and his subsequent positions provided a great platform to gain comprehensive technical knowledge allowing Jim to successfully provide MPD project planning and support services.

Jim has a passion for creating value through careful planning, efficiency and performance – never more vital than in the oil and gas industry today.

James Parr Head of Managed Pressure Drilling

James started his career in oil and gas 18 years ago with Northland Energy Services and has been involved in UBD / MPD projects throughout his career. During the last 10 years he has been focused on the project management / delivery of MPD projects from both the equipment provider and operator sides of the business. Most recently he has spent the last 6 years working for Hess in various locations as an MPD Advisor for their operations.

As Head of Managed Pressure Drilling at EXCEED he is responsible for driving forward the MPD business from a performance perspective, standardising workflows to ensure performance continuity on each project.

Mark Cullen Head of Subsurface

A global career spanning over 30 years - with companies including Shell E&P UK, Talisman UK, Baker Hughes RDS and AGR Tracs - has given Mark an unrivalled understanding of the exploration and production lifecycle. Coupled with his expertise in production technology-optimisation and strong technical expertise in petroleum/well engineering artificial lift and completions, this makes Mark one of the most experienced and effective subsurface experts in the industry.

Mark’s experience extends to strategic leadership in acquisition planning, M&A technical due diligence and business integration management, all of which provides EXCEED’s clients with the expert, integrated support required to make informed technical and operational business decisions.

Steve Hayhurst Production Technology and Petroleum Engineering Manager

A member of EXCEED’s management team since 2015, Steve joined the company to set up and develop its Production Technology and Petroleum Engineering service line.

To this role, Steve has brought over 30 years’ experience in well design and well construction operations - spanning drilling, subsea, completion, test and intervention disciplines. His expertise lies particularly in well design, production technology and the project management of completion and well testing: this has been reflected in EXCEED’s outstanding reputation for maximising well performance throughout the field lifecycle.

Bob Fraser Head of Finance

Chartered Management Accountant, Bob, has focused his financial expertise upon the drilling and well management sphere for over 25 years. His highly pragmatic, strategic approach has been instrumental in numerous international development projects, which have benefited from his experience in acquisitions and mergers, new country entry and the creation of strategic business sustainability programmes and systems.

Bob plays a critical role not only in EXCEED’s ongoing international growth, but also in our leadership of the energy transformation as we maximise clients’ recovery factor whilst enabling their – and our own - transition to carbon zero operations.

Dave Spooner UK Wells Manager

Since the beginning of his career in 1988, Dave has been honing his expertise in subsea drilling and project management with a variety of international operators, including Amoco, BP, CNRI and Repsol Sinopec.

Initially focused on the Southern and Central North Sea, Dave’s experience includes many years of managing offshore West Africa planning and operations, where he was accountable for the budgeting and delivery of $multimillion deep water development projects. His reputation and capability have since seen him tasked with transforming well operations, including life-cycle well integrity, for a number of major operators, from exploration and subsea development through to abandonment.

Brad Girdwood Operations Manager, EXCEED Australia

Based in Perth, Brad brings over 30 years’ local and international experience to EXCEED Australia. With a career focused on drilling technology and project management, his industry knowledge and expertise have seen him lead exploration and development campaigns across numerous international regions, work closely with industry stakeholders and regulatory bodies, and deliver world class performance to multiple operators.

As Operations Manager at EXCEED Australia, Brad’s impressive combination of technical and commercial capability, together with an unrivalled local market knowledge, are set to establish EXCEED as the leader in Australia’s evolving decommissioning and reinvigorated well management sectors.

Dave Craig Wells Project Manager

With over 20 years’ well engineering experience, Dave is responsible for the planning and execution of our clients’ UKCS well operations.

A Chartered Engineer with safe, efficient and cost-effective operations at the top of his agenda, Dave draws upon his extensive offshore and onshore experience working for, and on behalf of, a number of UK-focused well operators, to lead the well design, planning and execution of operations relating to exploration, appraisal and development well construction.

Focused on meeting our clients’ well objectives whilst conforming to legislative and regulatory requirements, his leadership skills in this respect have also been applied to assist in the development of our junior engineers.

Cameron Reid Supply Chain Manager

Contract and Procurement specialist Cameron’s expert client negotiation and evaluation skills reflect an in-depth understanding of the global operational and commercial environment in which we are active.

Combining his legal training with almost 20 years’ international onshore and offshore energy industry experience, Cameron is responsible for the creation and management of EXCEED’s portfolio of 140+ Master Service Agreements, which are a critical component in accessing the best commercial terms and the acceleration of project delivery.

Brogan McPherson HR Advisor

A qualified HR professional, Brogan has amassed over a decade of energy sector-specific experience, and she applies that wealth of knowledge and understanding across EXCEED’s global business. Leading the company’s HR activity, she is instrumental in developing and implementing a people-focused strategy which is committed to providing rewarding and successful careers, which offer a diverse range of opportunities for personal growth and professional development.

Brogan’s special interest in developing and maintaining our workforce’s competency has seen her lead the implementation of EXCEED’s competency management system and the introduction of computer-based training, both of which are critical to our sustainable growth and renowned operational excellence.