Specialist pipeline technology company, STATS Group, has promoted two long-serving employees to senior executive positions.

Steven Byers, who joined the Aberdeenshire business in 2010, has been appointed Chief Operating Officer, reporting to Chief Executive Officer Leigh Howarth, while Gary McDowall succeeds Steven as Director of Operations for STATS UK and Europe region.

Steven will be responsible for supporting STATS operations and projects teams, across the globe, as well as leading the group’s digitalisation programme.

Since joining STATS as a project engineer and in subsequent management roles, Steven has worked on and led many high-pressure pipeline isolation projects for clients in the UKCS, Europe and the Caspian region.

Gary McDowall joined STATS in 2008 as a project engineer and during his time with the business has worked on numerous energy infrastructure contracts, including project managing the isolation of the Forties pipeline system in the North Sea.

In his new role, Gary will be responsible for leading the safe delivery of all projects in the UK and Europe, using STATS specialist technologies and solutions.

STATS Group Chief Executive Officer, Leigh Howarth, said: 
"I am delighted that we have been able to strengthen our management team with two highly experienced engineering professionals.

"Steven and Gary have a wealth of outstanding career achievements with STATS, and over the past decade have made significant contributions to our clients’ operations.

"They both have a deep understanding of the ethos and drivers behind the success of STATS and will play key roles as we continue to grow our business in the UK and internationally.”

Based in Kintore, near Aberdeen, STATS also has operations in Canada, USA, the Middle East and Malaysia, where its principal activity is the provision of pressurised pipeline isolation, hot tapping and plugging services to the global oil, gas and petrochemical industries.

KeyFacts Energy Industry Directory: STATS Group