MARK JOHN SANDERS
3 Menzies Park, Riverside of Blairs, Aberdeen, Scotland,United Kingdom
Summary
Strategic energy executive with 25 years in UK North Sea operations, engineering, asset integrity, and decommissioning. As Senior Vice President – UK Operations, directs profit and loss for a diverse asset portfolio, including J-Block and Greater Britannia Area, while managing a substantial annual operating budget.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Vice President – UK Operations
Harbour Energy
09.2025 - Current
- Accountable for full profit and loss delivery across Harbour Energy’s UK operated asset portfolio, including J-Block, Greater Britannia Area, Armada, Everest, Lomond and Erskine.
- Lead a portfolio with gross daily production of approximately 150 kboe and an annual operating budget in excess of £1 billion.
- Provide executive leadership and strategic direction for UK Operations, with end-to-end accountability for production, maintenance, asset integrity, shutdowns, projects and operational risk across onshore and offshore assets.
- Own delivery of the UK Business Unit Long Range Plan across production, Opex and Capex, driving safe, efficient and value-focused operations aligned to corporate strategy.
- Chair the UK Operations Executive Committee and serve as a member of the UK Leadership Team and Global Leadership Group, shaping enterprise strategy and representing UK Operations across internal and external stakeholder forums.
Senior Vice President – Late Life Operations
Harbour Energy
10.2023 - 09.2025
- Accountable for P&L delivery across late-life production assets including Armada, Everest, Lomond, Erskine, Calder, Rivers and Solan, with gross daily production of approximately 60 kboe and annual Opex greater than £500 million.
- Led Harbour Energy’s UK decommissioning portfolio, overseeing execution strategy, stakeholder relations and regulatory compliance across a portfolio of approximately £5 billion.
- Managed a workforce of approximately 850 personnel, including 500 staff, 350 contractors and 8 Offshore Installation Managers.
- Member of the UK Leadership Team and Global Leadership Group, contributing to corporate strategy, ESG priorities and long-term asset stewardship.
Vice President – AELE Area
Harbour Energy
11.2021 - 10.2023
- Directed operations across the Armada, Everest, Lomond and Erskine assets with accountability for HSEQ, asset integrity, production performance and budget delivery.
- Delivered high production efficiency and continuous improvement across a complex offshore portfolio, managing more than 500 personnel.
- Represented the UK in Harbour’s Global Leadership Group, contributing to enterprise-wide operational strategy.
Senior Operations Manager – Greater Britannia Area
Harbour Energy
07.2020 - 11.2021
- Led performance and operational strategy for one of the largest gas-condensate fields in the North Sea.
- Delivered production efficiency greater than 97% across facilities with daily output of 60 MBOE and a £150 million annual budget.
- Oversaw approximately 350 staff and contractors, ensuring safety, regulatory compliance and asset integrity.
UK Engineering & Asset Integrity Manager
ConocoPhillips (UK) Limited
05.2019 - 07.2020
- Led engineering governance and technical assurance for Greater Britannia Area and J-Block.
- Managed a multi-disciplinary team of more than 160 personnel and contractors and a £300 million annual budget.
- Served as process owner for engineering standards, safety-critical elements and management of change.
Southern North Sea Operations & Decommissioning Delivery Manager
ConocoPhillips (UK) Limited
08.2018 - 07.2019
- Led safe operations and decommissioning across 38 offshore platforms and an onshore gas terminal.
- Delivered one of the world’s most complex decommissioning projects, managing combined Opex and Abex of £460 million.
Operations Support Manager - Greater Britannia
ConocoPhillips (UK) Limited
11.2015 - 10.2018
- Managed team of 30 multi-discipline engineers for UK offshore technical support daily.
- Coordinated offshore maintenance and engineering work for Britannia area operations teams.
- Drove safe, environmentally responsible maintenance while maximising facility direct operating efficiency.
UK Instrumentation Technical Authority
ConocoPhillips (UK) Limited
01.2013 - 11.2015
- Developed and owned engineering standards for ConocoPhillips (U.K.) instrument discipline.
- Provided technical assurance for business activities against regulatory requirements.
- Supported operations capital projects, decommissioning, and non-operated asset engineering solutions.
Electrical, Control & Instrument Engineer
PX Group
11.2011 - 01.2013
- Support operations and maintenance across electrical control and instrumentation engineering disciplines.
- Provide technical assurance and governance for px group UK portfolio activities.
- Manage safety and reliability for Teesside gas processing plant operations.
Process Operator /Electrical, Control & Instrument
PX Group
03.2007 - 05.2008
- Monitored plant parameters to support safe, compliant Teesside gas processing operation.
- Inspected equipment and controlled operating conditions at Viking power station.
- Delivered first-line maintenance during daily plant rotations and shift cover.
Electrical, Control & Instrument Technician
AMEC
09.2001 - 03.2007
- Performed two years as electrical control and instrument technician, focusing on installation, calibration, and maintenance of control systems.
- Ensured safe execution of engineering and maintenance work on aromatics plant in Teesside, contributing to compliance with health and safety regulations and operational reliability.
- Completed four-year technical apprenticeship, followed by role as electrical controls technician, gaining hands-on experience in system design and troubleshooting.
Education
MSc - Electronics and Control Engineering
University of Teesside
BEng (Hons) - Instrumentation and Control Engineering
University of Teesside
Foundation Degree (FDEng) - Multi-Discipline Engineering
University of Teesside
Apprentice Electrician Completion Diploma - advanced vocational certifications in electrical installation, testing and systems commissioning
JIB for the Electrical Contracting Industry
Skills
- Enterprise Leadership of Complex Offshore Asset Portfolios
- Full Profit and Loss Ownership with Capital Discipline
- Safe, Reliable and Efficient Operations in High Hazard Environments
- Production Delivery, Optimisation and Operational Reliability
- Major Capital Project Delivery, Start Up and Production Ramp Up
- Long Range Planning, Asset Strategy and Field Life Extension
- Asset Integrity, Process Safety and Major Accident Risk Management
- Regulatory Compliance and External Engagement in Highly Regulated Jurisdictions
- Capital Allocation, Cost Discipline and Sustainable Value Delivery
- Integrated Maintenance, Shutdown and Reliability Strategy
- Strategic Stakeholder Management across Government, JV and Industry
- External Representation and Social Licence to Operate
- Organisation Leadership, Talent Development and Capability Building
- High Performance Culture, Safety Leadership and Continuous Improvement
- Engineering Governance, Technical Assurance and Enterprise Risk Management
Professional Qualifications
- Chartered Instrument Engineer (Eng. UK. CEng.).
- Fellow of the Institute of Measurement and Control.
- TÜV Functional Safety Engineer - TÜV Rheinland (ID number 2969/ 10.).
- Odyssey Management Development Programme - Institute of Leadership and Management.
- Fellowship Programme with the Forward Institute – For leaders shaping the future.
Timeline
Senior Vice President – UK Operations
Harbour Energy
09.2025 - Current
Senior Vice President – Late Life Operations
Harbour Energy
10.2023 - 09.2025
Vice President – AELE Area
Harbour Energy
11.2021 - 10.2023
Senior Operations Manager – Greater Britannia Area
Harbour Energy
07.2020 - 11.2021
UK Engineering & Asset Integrity Manager
ConocoPhillips (UK) Limited
05.2019 - 07.2020
Southern North Sea Operations & Decommissioning Delivery Manager
ConocoPhillips (UK) Limited
08.2018 - 07.2019
Operations Support Manager - Greater Britannia
ConocoPhillips (UK) Limited
11.2015 - 10.2018
UK Instrumentation Technical Authority
ConocoPhillips (UK) Limited
01.2013 - 11.2015
Electrical, Control & Instrument Engineer
PX Group
11.2011 - 01.2013
Process Operator /Electrical, Control & Instrument
PX Group
03.2007 - 05.2008
Electrical, Control & Instrument Technician
AMEC
09.2001 - 03.2007
MSc - Electronics and Control Engineering
University of Teesside
BEng (Hons) - Instrumentation and Control Engineering
University of Teesside
Foundation Degree (FDEng) - Multi-Discipline Engineering
University of Teesside
Apprentice Electrician Completion Diploma - advanced vocational certifications in electrical installation, testing and systems commissioning
JIB for the Electrical Contracting Industry