Marine Specialist Targets Growth with U.S. Appointment

Scottish marine specialist Maritime Assurance & Consulting (MAC) has taken the next significant step in the company’s growth strategy with its first appointment in the USA.

Chad Fuhrmann joins the Aberdeen-based firm as Business Director, Americas, with a remit to focus on developing MAC’s business in the Gulf of Mexico.

The expansion in the USA marks the latest phase in the  rapid evolution of the business, which was founded in 2011 and has grown to record turnover in excess of £3.25million in the past financial year.

MAC  is  already  active  worldwide,  including  the  Gulf,  but  the  recruitment  of  the  first  team  member based permanently in America is viewed as vital to future plans.

Managing Director Graeme Reid said: “We are delighted to welcome Chad to MAC. Our work in the US has already  demonstrated  to  us  the  potential  that  exists,  particularly  in  and  around  the  Gulf  of Mexico, and, by establishing a permanent presence in the region, we will be ideally placed to react in a nimble and flexible manner. 

“Those qualities have been consistently at the heart of the business and set us apart from larger and less  responsive  competitors,  many  of  whom  have  gone  through  transitions  and  periods  of  change recently. In that time we have been able to gain market share by demonstrating our capabilities and the advantages of working with the skilled and dedicated team we have at MAC.

“We  want  to  build  on  the  relationships  we  have  with  existing  clients  in  the  US  and  forge  new relationships to  grow the  business. It  is  a  similar  process to the  one  we  successfully  went through when we launched in Aberdeen three years ago and Chad will have an important part to play as we move forward with plans to replicate that overseas.” 

Chad Fuhrmann, a graduate of the United States Merchant Marine Academy, has more than 16 years experience in the industry. He spent 10 years at sea as an engineer, both internationally and in the Gulf of Mexico, and for the past six years has worked as a consultant for major players in the sector.

Mr  Fuhrmann  said:  “The market  potential  is  huge,  particularly  given the  breadth  of  service offering MAC provides. I’m looking forward to the challenge and enthusiastic about the opportunities we have in front of us. 

“In  a  short  period  MAC  has  established  a  strong  track  record  and  demonstrated  expertise internationally. That provides an excellent base to build upon in the US, particularly with the existing client base.” 

MAC  provides  consultancy  and  support  services to the  worldwide marine,  construction,  drilling  and floating  production  industries.  The  MAC  team  consists  of  24  employees,  with  additional  expertise provided by over 30 associate consultants to service growing global demand. The firm was  recently ranked fourth in a prestigious index of the best new British businesses and top among the Scottish organisations to earn a place in the Startups 100 list.