Taproom Talks

David Currie's 40-Year Secret: How Trust Saved a Failing Plant and Works Every Time

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2523238/fan_mail/new] In this episode of Taproom Talks Kenny is joined by David Currie, Chairman of Proserv. David, a veteran of the energy sector with over 40 years of experience, shares his career journey—from attending 14 different schools as a Royal Navy child to spending 29 years at FMC and holding CEO roles at Aker and JDR before becoming Chairman of ProServ.  He discusses the biggest global change he has witnessed in the industry, highlighting the shift toward improved safety and talent development. The conversation offers a frank assessment of the challenges currently facing the Aberdeen energy sector, arguing that uncertainty over future government policy, rather than current taxation, is driving good companies and the essential supply chain to move overseas. David stresses the need for political consensus and a 10-year stable "runway" for investment.  He also explores the current state of energy transition, expressing concern that the UK is "miles behind" in offshore wind infrastructure like the grid, which is leading companies to hand back field awards due to high connection costs.  Finally, David shares his leadership philosophy, which centers on the powerful results achieved when leaders trust and enable their teams to succeed, exemplified by the story of turning around a struggling French plant at FMC

The UK Operator Stamp: How John Anderson is Using North Sea Credibility to Win Big in Namibia and West Africa

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2523238/fan_mail/new] In this episode Kenny Dooley is joined by John Anderson of Exceed, a Kent Company, and we learn that even the best-laid career plans can go wonderfully off track. How do you go from a trainee drilling engineer, getting hands-on, roughneck-level experience in the challenging Southern North Sea, to suddenly realizing you’ve spent 15 years on the commercial side of the business? John shares the story of how his self-proclaimed six-month stint overseeing contracts turned into a decade and a half, and what it’s like to wake up one morning as an industry veteran. John walks us through the high-stakes journey of Exceed—from its rebirth as a small team after a devastating downturn, to the strategic decision to join Kent. He details why finding the right cultural fit was non-negotiable during the managed sales process, and how Exceed’s status as a licensed UK well operator is now giving them a global footprint in new geographies like Namibia and West Africa. For a glimpse into the future, hear about their cutting-edge work in energy transition, where Exceed is helping to pioneer new API standards for hydrogen wells, even using NASA testing procedures to verify safety. When he’s not navigating complex international deals, John finds unique ways to switch off. Hear about his beloved Banchory petting zoo, home to a variety of animals including pygmy goats and potbelly pigs, and his passion project as Vice Chairman of Banchory Community Football Club, where he’s working on securing funding for a vital Astroturf pitch for the community’s 480 players. Don't be a sheep: pull up a chair, grab a pint, and join this warm, honest chat about building a legacy, embracing change, and the perks of seeing the world in the energy industry.

Digital Fatigue Is Real: Jason Brown on Why Operators Are Wasting Millions on Failed Tech—and How to Stop.

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2523238/fan_mail/new] In this episode Kenny Dooley is joined by Jason Brown of Elementz. Did you know the energy sector is currently suffering from "fatigue" over failed digital transformation and AI projects? Jason, the CEO of Elementz—an industrial software company focused on subsea inspection and integrated solutions—sits down to share how he helped flip that narrative. Hear the story of a mechanical engineer who started his career running the line at IBM before launching Elementz, which achieved an incredible £2 million in revenue in its first year by simply focusing on doing one thing really well for customers. Jason shares the secret behind Elementz's rapid success, explaining how their configurable, end-to-end framework for asset integrity resonated deeply with operators across the globe, from Canada to Australia. But the real deep dive here is on industry collaboration. Jason details the "Compass" model: a unique approach involving seven major operators working together to "compound" data and accelerate the adoption of AI. He breaks down how they are moving past costly pilot failures by protecting intellectual property within a trusted research environment and ensuring their technology actually solves core business problems. Beyond the tech, Jason doesn't hold back on his candid concerns over current UK energy policy, describing the trajectory as leading toward a "cliff edge" and worrying about losing skilled people to other global basins. From de-stressing with 80s indie rock and abstract art to the essential career advice he’d give a 20-year-old engineer (hint: it involves seeing the world), this conversation covers the personal journey just as much as the professional challenge. Pull up a chair and pour yourself a drink—this is a must-listen for anyone interested in the future of the blue digital ecosystem

Ditching the 'Black Book': The Data-Driven Sales Pivot That Secured £2.5 Million - Colin Manson Pt.II

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2523238/fan_mail/new] In this episode Kenny Dooley is joined by Colin Manson of Xergy/ Proteus (formerly Xodus) for round two, diving deep into the realities of scaling a tech business. Ever wondered what the biggest mistake a founder can make when building a brand new product? Colin gets candid, sharing that trying to sell 25 ideas at once was "utter madness" for a startup, and why keeping your product idea as lean as possible is the ultimate secret weapon for getting to market fast. Now, having secured an oversubscribed funding round of nearly £2.5 million, Colin reveals how Proteus is shifting from relationship-based selling (the "black book") to a disciplined, data-driven sales approach. He details the strategic pivot, including partnering with a sales-as-a-service company and building pipelines across four key regions, including Australia and the UK. It’s not all successful funding rounds and global domination, though. Colin gets refreshingly honest about the seven-year journey, revealing the "dark moments" of loneliness and the heady, scary feeling that the business might not make it. He also delivers unfiltered, must-hear advice for any company considering overseas expansion, contrasting the challenging, payment-delayed landscape of the Middle East with the more welcoming opportunities found in the Australian market. He even shares the hilarious story of realizing his initial dismissal of a 400-page sales playbook was wrong, and that the company is now following it "to the letter". Pull up a chair and grab a drink for this brilliant conversation that offers genuine insight into the mind of a mature entrepreneur.

$15Bn and Counting: Sam Long on the UK's Decommissioning and the Risk of Losing the Supply Chain

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2523238/fan_mail/new] In this episode of Taproom Talks Kenny is joined by Sam Long of Decom Mission, the specialist trade association for decommissioning across the oil, gas, nuclear, and renewables sectors. Sam, the Chief Executive Officer, shares his unique career path from growing up in a farming family in south-west England and being the son of a Natural History Unit member, to becoming Wood Group’s first environmental manager in the North Sea oil and gas industry in the early 2000s. Having been involved in decommissioning projects early in his career, Sam discusses how he views decommissioning as a critical "bridge activity" within the inevitable, decades-long energy transition.1The discussion explores the challenging dynamics of the decommissioning market, noting that while the UK is the number one global market, its domestic supply chain is fragile and heavily reliant on international activity for survival. Sam outlines the substantial uptick in UK decommissioning expected from 2027 through 2032, while simultaneously pointing to key international growth opportunities in Australia and Brazil. He also addresses industry challenges, including the high day rates caused by a shortage of vessels and the importance of reservoir isolation, which accounts for 50% of the decommissioning value but lacks the "glamor" of other projects like the Pioneer Spirit. The conversation closes with Sam reflecting on the cyclical ups and downs of Aberdeen's economy and his life outside of work, where he is a passionate cyclist and runner who has spent 15 years coaching youth and junior cycling.