3t Energy Group has appointed a new finance director for its training division to help drive ambitious global growth plans.
Chris Durling comes to 3t Energy Group from EY, where he led the Aberdeen transactions business and EY’s focus on energy services in the UK. Chris will be responsible for the financial management of the Group’s combined training businesses to help drive further expansion and any additional acquisitions. One of his first tasks will be to integrate Petrofac’s recently acquired in-person training business into the Group.
Prior to EY, Chris worked for KPMG in Scotland, primarily focussed on the UK retail division and was responsible for delivering several merger and acquisition deals for the food and drink sector.
In addition to his role at EY, Chris has a strong pedigree within the broader energy industry, having spent an 18-month secondment with the Co-op Bank. Here, he helped the team develop its UK market leading position for funding small to mid-sized renewable energy projects.
After graduating in Edinburgh, Chris started his career with accountancy firm Baker Tilly – now RSM – primarily within its corporate finance division. As well as a day-to-day focus on due diligence, mergers and acquisitions and Alternative Investment Market (AIM) listings, Chris had invaluable experience in external and internal audits. RSM also supported Chris through both his Chartered Accountancy studies (ICAS) and Corporate Finance Qualification (ICAEW), enabling him to become the youngest person in the UK to hold both qualifications.
Chris joins 3t Energy Group at an exciting time. Already the UK’s largest energy sector training provider, 3t Energy Group is transforming the global training landscape with technology. Last year it launched the world’s most technologically advanced digital learning and workforce development platform, 3t Transform, and is also market leader in drilling, well control and crane operations simulators through its Drilling Systems business. It has ambitious plans to become the world’s number one training solutions provider.
Chris Durling said:
“It’s enormously exciting to be joining such a transformational business. 3t Energy Group is a fantastic success story and is at the forefront of helping companies worldwide become cleaner and greener through technology and training. One of the most significant challenges facing the energy sector since 2014 has been how to adapt to both digitisation and the energy transition. 3t Energy Group is at the centre of helping the sector address these issues so it’s a perfect time to join.
“As well as an extremely talented and committed team, the Group boasts an unrivalled global customer-base and some of the most innovative training and technology solutions on the market today. Our work with a number of the energy sector’s biggest and most influential names is helping increase safety, reduce carbon footprint and create highly competent and efficient workforces across the world. I’m delighted to now be part of this inspirational growth journey and am looking forward to supporting the team and its clients through the energy transition and beyond.”
Vice President of 3t Energy Group’s training division, Paul Knowles said:
“We are delighted to welcome Chris to the senior management team at 3t Energy Group. He is extremely well known and well respected within the energy sector and will be an enormous asset to the Group moving forward. We are very much looking forward to benefitting from his proven financial acumen, drive and energy.”