A manufacturing company based in Barrow has appointed a new chief executive.

Rovtech has appointed John Polson to the position.

The specialist firm is looking to enhance the worldwide growth of nuclear energy and offshore wind.

Mr Polson, 30, joins Rovtech from Aratellus, where he held the role of director of projects and was a member of the senior executive team.

Rovtech is a 'leading expert' in harsh environment manufacturing, primarily catering to the nuclear and subsea energy sectors in the US, Japan, France, and the UK.

The company is known for its robotic intervention and monitoring systems that can endure radiation, extreme heat, and deep ocean conditions, along with its manufacturing capabilities, including machining, prototyping, testing, and assembly.

Mr Polson's appointment comes after Rovtech was acquired by the climate tech venture studio Ventex in October.

He will work with the studio's leadership team to facilitate Rovtech's geographic and sectoral expansion.

Stuart McLeod, Ventex managing partner, said: "John has built a strong reputation as a hugely capable project director and is someone who really understands the importance of exceeding customer expectations.

"His leadership, diligence, analytical, and communication skills will be crucial as we help Rovtech fulfil its scale potential.

"The business has a strong reputation for building world-class products for harsh environments and is perfectly placed to support the energy transition and net-zero supply chain."

L-R: Steve Gray and Stuart McLeod, managing partners of Ventext, alongside John Polson, the new chief executive of Rovtech, and Ventex CFO Rob Aitken  (Image: Andrew Taylor / True North)

Steve Gray, Ventex managing partner, said: "John Polson's appointment as CEO marks an exciting new chapter for Rovtech.

"John and I have been colleagues at two previous companies and I know John’s detailed understanding of the Rovtech product portfolio from an end-user perspective makes him the perfect candidate to lead the business."

The decommissioning of large legacy nuclear portfolios worldwide, combined with government and financial sector support for new projects, creates a long-term 'sustainable demand growth' for specialist harsh environment engineering services.

Ventex believes that Rovtech’s reputation in demanding environments also positions the firm perfectly for opportunities in the wind industry.

Mr Polson said: "I am delighted to join Rovtech to help the business achieve its full potential and accelerate the journey to net zero.

"The energy transition will rely heavily on a robust supply chain equipped to operate in harsh environments, something Rovtech has been doing for more than 20 years.

"I have already been impressed by the dedication and ingenuity of the Rovtech team.

"Their commitment to innovation and problem-solving will be the basis of our service."

Launched in Aberdeen this summer, Ventex already has Rovtech in its portfolio, along with two other companies: High-Performance Robotics (HPR) based in Aberdeen and Rahd AI, a decommissioning-focused artificial intelligence firm that is headquartered in Perth, Australia.

The founders, Mr McLeod and Mr Gray, have a 'track record of success' in building global businesses, and their venture studio model aims to stimulate growth in companies with technologies that have the potential to help solve the 'climate crisis.'