15.06.2015

New head for Sparrows Group USA

Offshore/Oil & gas lifting and handling specialist the Sparrows group has appointed Steve Bertone as a director and executive vice president - Americas.

Bertone joins the company after 33 years with McDermott International, retiring in 2013. His most recent position was vice president marine operations, having held increasingly senior positions in the Marine division over 14 years. Prior to that he was country manager for Qatar and Saudi Arabia prior to which he was a field operations engineer having started his career as a structural design engineer.

He will be based in Houston and will oversee all of the group’s operations in the USA, Brazil, Mexico and the Caribbean. The company opened in the US in 1999, and now operates from five sites with offices, workshops and fabrication facilities in Houston and at Abbeville, Broussard, Houma and Slidell in Louisanna and employs 440. It also has a joint venture – SparrowsBSM - in Brazil, and a partnership in Mexico.
Please register to see all images

Steve Bertone

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.”

Chief executive Stewart Mitchell added: “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”.