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Can you tell us a bit about your experience in the maritime/subsea sector?

Jones My background has primarily been related to off- shore and subsea hardware used in the energy sector.

Customers in this area are primarily involved in the explo- ration, drilling, completion and production of hydrocar- bons in deep water and harsh environments like the Gulf of Mexico, Brazil, West Africa and the North Sea. I was fortunate to enter the industry at a time when numerous technological challenges were presenting themselves and as a Mechanical Engineer my education affords me the ability to participate in many of them. As the industry was developing methods to economically operate in the harsh environment of the North Sea, we did not necessar- ily realize the preparation that was occurring for learning how to move effectively into deep water. Much of the operating techniques, hardware design and risk manage- ment skills we use today are a result of the work done in the harsh environment of the North Sea. I was lucky to work for several of the large manufacturing companies providing drilling and production equipment into this market during years of great technological development.

I understand that Forum Energy Technologies is a rela- tively new company. Can you please provide a brief cor- porate history/structure?

Jones Forum Energy Technologies was formed in

August of 2010 to create a significant, broad based sup- plier of products and services to the energy industry.

Forum Energy Technologies resulted from the merger of five portfolio companies owned by the same private equi- ty sponsor. The companies were: • Forum Oilfield Technologies - provided globally a wide range of drilling capital equipment and consumables to drilling companies and their suppliers. • The Triton Group - made available a wide range of remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), subsea hardware, 50 MTR April 2011

Five Minutes With

Charles Jones

President of Drilling and Subsea Division, Forum Energy Technologies by Greg Trauthwein

Forum Energy Technologies is a new name, but it has quickly established itself as a subsea leader.