Helicopter - Bristow takes a close look at itself - R&W

Bristow Issues Further Operational Shakeups Amid Down Oil Market

By Amy Kluber | September 13, 2018
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Photo courtesy of Bristow

Bristow Group has implemented organizational changes that the company hopes will improve its support services model.

The industrial aviation service provider for offshore, search and rescue, and aircraft support over the past 15 months has been making efforts to reduce costs in response to the depressed global oil market. With shifting demands, Bristow has had to look for other business opportunities, said President and Chief Executive Jonathan Baliff.

"We have been pursuing increases in revenue and more efficient management of our portfolio of assets and businesses and reducing our costs as we continue to create the world's premier industrial aviation services company," Baliff said in a prepared statement. "Market demands have changed, which means we must continue to look for opportunities to improve our support services model and enable our geographical hubs to operate more effectively and efficiently."

The company eliminated a layer management in its safety services segment, thereby aligning its two primary hubs in Europe and the Americas for a more "global oversight of processes," a company press release said. This includes eliminating Steve Predmore's position as vice president and chief safety officer. Predmore has left the company, the release said.

Bristow will also combine its global supply chain, maintenance operations, asset and fleet management, global fleet support and global maintenance planning groups under one global fleet and maintenance services group. As a result, Bristow Senior Vice President and General Counsel Tim Knapp has left the company. Deputy General Counsel Bo Underwood will assume acting general counsel.

Some of Bristow's cost-cutting measures last year included dropping a global approach to its air services, reducing its corporate headquarters in Houston, Texas, and divesting its training school, Bristow Academy.

"Today's announced changes will enable Bristow to continue to improve — not just in today's oil and gas market, but in any markets it serves for the short and long term," said Baliff.