Biographies

Ian Ord

Ian is one of the founding directors of Fifth Ring Integrated Corporate Communications and has played an instrumental role in the company’s growth and global success since it was established in 1991 in Aberdeen, Scotland.  

Ian began his career in the advertising business and has since worked in design, public relations and strategic planning.  

He has amassed extensive international experience and in depth knowledge of a diverse variety of industries including, property, leisure, financial and professional services and the public sector, but it is the energy industry that has played the biggest part in his career. 

Working with exploration and production companies, major contractors and emerging technology businesses, Ian has advised on everything from issues and crisis management, strategic planning and tactical marketing communications. 

A keen observer of the industry, Ian brings a wealth of experience and an international perspective to every project. 

As director of business development, Ian has a global remit; to generate growth in the Fifth Ring offices in Aberdeen, Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Houston, with a specific focus on ensuring these offices cooperate effectively on client’s international assignments. 

Murray Strachan

Murray is Managing Director of Strachan & Partners, a specialist business advisory consultancy, and Chief Executive of Albyn Ventures, a business investment group. He also holds a number of non-executive chairman & director positions in a diverse range of companies throughout the UK, many of which he is a shareholder in, including  outsourced payroll, employment law / hr consultancy, local radio, specialist landscape planning & property reports, men's fashion accessories, golf practice products, retail & oil/gas services. 

Prior to February 2007, he was a Director and Chief of Staff of the Petrofac Operations Services Division, a major international oil services business. Until May 2006, Murray was the Chief Executive of the Petrofac Training Group, the leading training & consultancy business to the international oil and gas industry. Petrofac Training was created in February 2004, when Petrofac acquired the RGIT Montrose Group, which had been acquired in April 2003 by a MBO Team led by him. Prior to RGIT Montrose, he worked for divisions of Liberty Mutual and the AP Moller / Maersk Group in a number of senior management or strategic change management roles.

Murray is also a non executive director of &/or holds board positions with a number of charitable causes &/or organisations in Scotland and was a top 3 finalist for the Scottish Director of the Year in 2004.  RGIT Montrose, under his leadership, was the winner of the Small/Mid-Size Company Deal of the Year 2003/4 and was runner up of overall Deal of the Year 2003/4.  In 2007, Murray was appointed Honorary Professor of the Robert Gordon University, joined the Board of the Entrepreneurial Exchange in Scotland and joined the Development Board of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.  Murray is also Vice Chairman of the NE of Scotland cancer charity CLAN with whom he has been a director since 2001.

He lives between Bridge of Allan & Aberdeen with his partner Carol and their three children.

Full biographical details are contained at www.murraystrachan.co.uk.