Mr Hutchinson, currently based in Singapore, has more than 20 years experience in drilling, offshore operations, oilfield services, fabrication, manufacturing and management.

Mr Hutchinson joins from the position of vice president of surface products and services, a business unit within Aker Kvaerner Subsea. Aker Kvaerner said that he has led a 400-strong global operation for the past two-and-a-half years. Prior to this, Mr Hutchinson was general manager for Aker Kvaerner Subsea in Nigeria.

In his new role as head of aftermarket, he will be based at Aker Kvaerner’s headquarters in Oslo, Norway. He will be part of the subsea division’s global management team and report to Raymond Carlsen, executive vice president of Aker Kvaerner Subsea. Mr Hutchinson will assume his new on March 1, 2008.