Global Underwater Hub (GUH), the leading trade and development body representing the UK’s £8billion underwater industry has announced the appointment of a new regional manager.

Ricci Boston, who will be based in Newcastle, will be instrumental in increasing engagement among GUH's members and expanding its membership base in the north of England. He will also be responsible for developing strategic relationships across the region whilst driving GUH’s growth and initiatives for the underwater sectors.

Prior to his appointment at GUH, Ricci was Director of Strategy and Client Engagement for a major provider of engineering and management services to the energy industry. Over the last decade, Ricci has successfully managed bids, mobilised and project managed large revenue projects in the oil & gas, power generation, renewable energy, construction and engineering sectors.

As a UK-wide organisation, GUH has member companies located across the country. Ricci will be responsible for supporting those business in the north of England, in an area stretching from the Mersey in the west to The Humber in the east and north to the Scottish border. The organisation’s goal is to accelerate the delivery of a step change in the development and internationalisation of underwater technologies and deliver exponential growth in the industry.

GUH, which transitioned from Subsea UK in 2021, already has a well-established Scottish base in Aberdeen and will open a Newcastle office in late summer, followed by a base in Bristol later in the year. Refurbishment work is well advanced at the new premises in Newcastle’s Walker area, with completion expected in mid-July.

Commenting on his appointment, Ricci said: “I’m thrilled to become the North of England regional manager for Global Underwater Hub based at its new office in Newcastle. My primary focus is to provide more opportunities and platforms for the underwater industry to come together and exchange knowledge and technologies.

“GUH is a forward-thinking and dynamic organisation that is genuinely making a difference across the underwater sectors, prioritising the best interests of industry. I’m looking forward to meeting businesses doing great work in the underwater sectors and helping them to drive opportunities and growth.”

As an industry body, GUH represents companies working in the underwater industry across the oil and gas, offshore wind, marine renewables, telecoms, aquaculture and defence sectors. It facilitates cross-sector collaboration amongst members by delivering detailed market intelligence on the current and future underwater landscape, business development support, networking opportunities and learning and development initiatives.

Neil Gordon, CEO at GUH, said: “It’s great to have Ricci on board as the GUH North of England regional manager. His experience and knowledge in the renewable sector combined with his strategic expertise will be invaluable to our organisation and members.

“GUH plays a fundamental role in future-proofing the underwater industry sectors, championing businesses within them, and creating opportunities for growth and innovation. With Ricci leading our efforts in the North, we are confident that we will further strengthen the sector and position the UK at the forefront of the global industry.”