Advanced engineering group Viper Innovations is poised for further expansion after appointing a new managing director.
Edward Davies, pictured, joined the firm, recognised as one of the most innovative companies in the oil and gas subsea and rail transportation sectors, earlier this month. 
He succeeds Neil Douglas who, along with Max Nodder, founded the Portishead-headquartered firm in 2007.
Viper said Edward’s appointment marked the beginning of a new chapter as he would lead its plans for ambitious growth in both its key sectors.
Edward, who worked as an advisor to Viper in the firm’s early days, brings 20 years’ experience working with fast-growing businesses as a consultant, non-executive and executive director.
A solicitor by training, he most recently acted as advisor to the founders of engineering company Adey from start up in 2003, before taking on the full-time, executive position of chief operating officer in 2015.
He was pivotal in developing and overseeing the transformation of the business to position it for further rapid growth, international expansion and to undertake strategic acquisition work.
Viper, which also has a base in Aberdeen, was initially set up with £45,000 of working capital and has grown steadily by developing products that monitor, detect and locate cable insulation and conductor faults on well heads.
Its innovative V-LIFE technology generates income in two ways – through payments for the sale of the hardware and associated engineering, and through a ‘software licence’ model with a monthly charge – similar to a mobile phone contract.
The technology keeps oil and gas fields producing by reversing the effects of failed subsea electrical equipment – saving Viper’s customers huge sums as they do not need to procure and install replacement subsea hardware. 
The firm has also used its ground-breaking technology to break into the UK rail industry with an innovative product that reduces delays caused by signal failure.
It has also partnered on projects with industry giants such as BP, Shell, Chevron, Total and ExxonMobil, as well as a number of universities, and has been successful in obtaining funding for research and development (R&D) from oilfield operators and through government grants.
Co-founder Neil Douglas, who will remain as a director to support Viper’s continued growth, said: “Edward takes on the leadership of a successful company that is in great shape and has exciting times ahead. The board has full confidence in his ability to continue Viper’s strong reputation for innovation and growth.
“I am looking forward to working with Edward and ensuring that the transition is as smooth as possible.
“I am sure he will enjoy working in the business as much as I have done since the start of our journey and will continue to do so. Edward brings a skill set which will certainly help us in the next phase of our journey.”
Edward Davies added: “I have known Viper’s founders for some time and had involvement with the business from the early days of its journey.
“Having followed its successes, I am delighted to be entrusted with leading the next phase of its growth, working alongside its founders and the talented and committed team they have developed.
“Viper has a fantastic product suite, customer base and is truly innovative. It has incredible opportunities ahead of it and I’m looking forward to being part of realising them and growing the business in its current markets and beyond.”
The company’s control systems support and help customers to maximise the capacity of their electrical systems capacity through real-time monitoring, including fault detection, predicting failures and – in the case of the subsea applications – reinstating electrical insulation and bringing fields back online.
It boasts a culture of continual innovation and invests 17% of its revenues directly in research and development (R&D).
Its products are used across the world including in Brazil, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Vietnam, the US, Australia, Indonesia, Norway, Equatorial Guinea and the Ivory Coast.
