Subsea technology and services company SMD announced it has appointed Kenny Liu to succeed Julian Zhu as its chief executive officer.
The U.K.-based company designs and manufactures remotely operated and autonomous vehicles and equipment for subsea engineering, primarily used in industries like offshore energy, mining, and telecommunications.
“Kenny brings a sharp commercial focus, deep industry insight, and a clear passion for our mission,” Mike Jones, chair at SMD, said in a statement. “Alongside his previous roles with Dynex and TEC, he has a strong track record supporting our global operations and working closely with our senior team. This makes him perfectly placed to deliver on the next stage of our vision and strategic aims.”
Liu said, “SMD is known across the industry for its commitment to engineering excellence underwater. I am proud to be taking on this role as CEO at such a pivotal time for the business.
“Our team is delivering market-leading solutions to clients across the globe, and my focus will remain on building strong customer partnerships, accelerating innovation, and creating the operational resilience needed for continued sustainable growth.”
Julian said, “It’s been a pleasure to serve as SMD’s CEO during an important time in our history. As a company committed to delivering cutting-edge solutions, this period has seen us reach significant milestones, including launching our first range of electric vehicles and establishing ourselves as a key player in the transition to electrification.
“I worked closely with my successor, Kenny, during his time as deputy CEO and general manager, and I look forward to seeing him lead SMD into its next phase of growth.”
