Keith’s journey with Omega Subsea began in 2016, when the company acquired Accpron UK Ltd, where he had already been serving as General Manager. Accpron specialized in providing skilled personnel to the subsea, energy, and oil and gas industries, offering both full project management teams and individual experts for offshore operations.  

“I had already worked with Øyvind Lunde at Sonsub and Accpron, so when Omega Subsea acquired the company, it was a natural step to continue," Keith explains. "I accepted the opportunity to transfer across to working with Omega Subsea UK Ltd. At the time, we were just three employees in the UK, and there were around six onshore staff at Omega Subsea AS.”  

At that stage, Omega Subsea was still in its early growth phase. The company had a modest onshore presence in both Norway and the UK and focused primarily on delivering experienced personnel to key clients in the subsea sector.  

“From providing support to our original client base, Omega Subsea has now changed dramatically,” Keith says. “We’ve transitioned from a small personnel supplier to having the capacity to provide full vessel project teams and project equipment to support global operations.”  

People and progress  

Among the many highlights of his time with the company, Keith points to the development of the UK team as a clear standout.  

“I’ve really enjoyed watching the career development of personnel I’ve helped recruit. Seeing them grow into their roles, and now forming a solid team in the Aberdeen office, has been a great part of the job.”  

A key turning point came in 2022. With plans underway for Omega Subsea’s first full vessel project, the decision was made to expand the onshore support team to meet growing demands.  

“Being involved in the decision to invest in additional staff in early 2022, in preparation for the Normand Cutter project, was a milestone. That project paved the way for our continued involvement in multiple vessel operations.”  

The increased activity also led to the need for a larger office space. In October 2024, Omega Subsea UK moved into new premises in Westhill to accommodate the growing team.  

“It was an important step in matching our operational setup to the size and scope of projects we now support.”  

Carrying the work forward  

However, not all milestones are planned. In 2022, Omega Subsea faced a deeply difficult moment with the sudden passing of then-Managing Director Alistair McKee, who had been a key figure in the Aberdeen office since it was established in 2015.  

“Alistair’s passing was a huge loss for us. I was asked to take on his responsibilities, and I was only able to do so thanks to the way he had built and documented the management systems. That structure made it possible to carry on.”  

Stepping into that role reflected Keith’s steady and thoughtful leadership—focused not only on moving the business forward, but on supporting the people around him.  

Reflecting on 40 years  

Keith’s offshore career began in 1985 as an ROV trainee, marking the start of a professional journey that would span four decades. As he steps away from day-to-day operations, he’s taking the time to appreciate the experiences, people, and progress that have defined his working life.  

“After 40 years working in the offshore industry, I think I can justify taking some time to reflect,” he says with a smile. “Who knows, if Omega Subsea ever needs another ROV pilot, I may still have my ROV pilot’s logbook somewhere.”  

As he enters retirement, the impact of his leadership is reflected in a strong UK operation, a growing global presence, and a team well-equipped for the road ahead.  

Omega Subsea Group acknowledgement  

His long-time colleague Øyvind Lunde, Group Resource Manager in Omega Subsea, highlights the importance of Keith’s role in that journey.  

“I have worked together with Keith in various companies and roles for close to 30 years and have a lot of gratitude and respect for Keith and his impact on the development of particularly Omega Subsea since 2016. We have been fully dependent on the support from Omega Subsea UK in our growth and the transition from consultancy to an operational company. He has built an organization in the UK which is ready and has the foundation to provide the required support for further growth,” says Lunde.  

Trond Berge, CEO of Omega Subsea, also expressed his appreciation for Keith’s work over the years.  

“We would like to thank Keith greatly for his commitment, contribution, and efforts into the development of Omega Subsea and wish him all the best in his future plans and endeavours,” concludes Berge.