Chris Bird once broke more than wooden boards in one minute with his bare hands. No wonder he’s not overly worried about the collapse in oil price, writes Erikka Askeland
When Hungarian energy firm Mol Group started looking further afield for oil exploration opportunities, the North Sea was mature, but booming.
A first North Sea raid in 2013 saw it take over assets worth £220million, including non-operated stakes in the Broom field, interests in the Catcher, Cladhan, Scolty and Crathes developments and a share in Shetland’s Sullom Voe terminal from Germany’s Wintershall.
Last year, a £76million deal with Premier Oil gave Mol a 21.8% stake in the Scott field, a 1.6% share in Telford and a 15% interest in Rochelle, all operated by Nexen. The firm was also successful in the 28th UK offshore licensing round, being awarded four blocks.
Mr Bird joined the firm as it’s UK managing director last year. As one of the team that built up Venture Production and then sold it to Centrica in a £1.3billion deal, he is no newcomer to downturns. And if his Budapest-based company is having any regrets about buying in when they did, he is not saying.
“In 1987, 1993, 1999, 2008 – and now 2015,” says Mr Bird of the downturns he has worked through in a 42-career in the industry. He describes himself as more optimistic than other of his peers in the North Sea.
“The industry is at a turning point. You could say is this the last chance for us to get this right, or is it cyclical? That’s an open debate,” he says.
“What we need to focus on is what makes us competitive so no matter what happens in the future we maximise our chance of success.”
He is set to celebrate a year of Mol being in Aberdeen. Last week the company marked the occasion with staff and the company will offer a business update along with a more public celebration in May.
He says the firm has spent its year integrating all the assets it has acquired which has kept them busy.
The Cladhan field is still coming on stream and he says the firm is working with Enquest to get Crathes through to sanction.
The company is also moving from its serviced offices at Riverside to offices in the same building overlooking the River Dee.
But careful evaluation is they byword for 2015.
“We have to look at unit costs. Then based on these unit costs we have to look at the economics of the projects we have and how we could potentially move them forward,” he says.
“At this stage it is too difficult to look at is a project being kicked out or not. All you can do is say is which projects can hit the hurdles and which ones are marginal – and at the marginal ones, what can we do to improve the economics
“It is the courage and the challenge to make sure we keep looking at how we create value by a unit cost reduction process. That is what we are currently discussing.
“What we have said at Mol is we are focused on production growth. We are also focused on value creation.
“Like everybody else we are looking at what makes sense to us – in the near term and the long term.”
Perhaps it is his pursuit of the Korean martial art, Kuk Sool Won, which gives him his cool. He and his wife run a school for the practice in Aberdeen, and the key to it is “strong body, smart mind, kind heart”, he says.
The board breaking incident was broadcast as part of a Red Nose day fundraiser.
“I promised I’d break 60 in one minute and most of my staff thought I’d make a right fool of myself. Actually I broke 64
“If you have the courage and determination you can do everything you want to do.”
Q&A
Who helped you get where you are today?
My wife. I was 20 and she was 19 when we met. We have been married for 31 years this year. She has stuck with me through thick and thin – through all the long hours, all the weekends all the studying, all the travel, all the house moves. She’s been the solid foundation that has allowed me to do my job.
What do you still hope to achieve in business?
Setting up Mol this year was great. I want to get Mol successful and make sure it has solid foundations for the future.
If you were in power in government, what would you change?
I have quite a large list of areas of concern. There is this issue about how we manage the aging population which is pretty close to me considering I am going into retirement in the next five years
What are you reading, listening or glued to on TV?
I don’t really watch too much TV but I like documentaries. I’ve been watching Planet Oil – that was really good.
My favourite book is Mastery by George Leonard. He was a third degree martial artist. He also taught Spitfire pilots in WWII and he was a serial entrepreneur. The book is about how to become a master of whatever you do. It’s a really good little book. You can read it in an hour.
If you were a character in fiction or history, who would you be?
I like visionary leaders, creativity, integrity, caring for people and courage.
The best blend for me would be a combination of Winston Churchill, Nelson Mandela and Christopher Columbus.
What do you drive and dream of driving?
My day car is a Porsche Panamera. It is a great car – it is comfortable, it is functional, it is nice to drive. I don’t see any need to change it out.
My dream car is the one I’ve got in my garage. I;ve got a Morgan Roadster. That is a great car.
My son first looked at it and said that was an old man’s car – but now he agrees it is a great car.
What would your three children or wife say about you?
Go ask them yourself. They’d probably say I’m supportive, loyal and always willing to help. I try my best to inspire them.
Which charity do you support and why?
In the past I’ve been a Cub Scout leader. Doing more than paying money is important to me.
Mol is supporting Transition Extreme’s Street Sports programme for youngsters.
Me and my wife have also been running a martial arts school in Aberdeen for 15 years.