Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom, November 2025 – North Star has announced the appointment of Duncan Palmer as Chief Human Resources Officer, marking a significant addition to its leadership team as the company strengthens its presence in offshore energy and renewable operations. With extensive HR leadership experience across the energy, marine, and offshore industries, Duncan brings a strategic perspective to organizational transformation, talent development, and people-first culture building.
Before joining North Star, Duncan served as Regional HR Manager – Europe & Africa at Borr Drilling, where he led HR operations across multiple geographies, driving workforce planning and leadership capability in dynamic offshore environments. His tenure was marked by aligning regional HR practices with global business priorities in the energy sector.
Previously, Duncan was the Human Resources Director at Sodexo for the Energy and Resources business, where he oversaw HR strategy for a workforce of over 1,200 professionals. As a member of the executive team, he played a key role in shaping a progressive, inclusive, and values-based organizational culture while ensuring compliance with complex employment legislation.
Prior to that, Duncan spent two years with Petrofac as Head of Human Resources – Asset Solutions, where he supported a 4,350-strong workforce across geographically diverse operations. His expertise in change management and talent strategies helped enable large-scale organizational transformation.
Earlier, Duncan had a seven-year tenure at Prosafe, where he held multiple leadership roles including People & Organisation Director and Head of Human Resources. He partnered with executive management to deliver cultural and organizational change across a global workforce, leading HR, logistics, and training operations across the UK, Brazil, Norway, and Singapore.
In his earlier career, Duncan held key HR positions at EnQuest, M-I SWACO (a Schlumberger Company), PSL Energy Services, and Hays, where he gained deep expertise in HR management, international recruitment, and offshore oil and gas operations. His experience in managing large, diverse teams and implementing global people strategies has shaped his reputation as a trusted HR strategist in the energy and marine sectors.
About North Star
Founded in 1886, North Star is the UK’s leading operator of Emergency Response and Rescue Vessels (ERRVs), with a proud legacy of safety, reliability, and innovation in offshore operations. Headquartered in Aberdeen, the company has evolved from supporting the oil and gas industry to becoming a key player in the offshore wind and clean energy sectors. Backed by Partners Group, a global private markets firm, North Star continues to expand with a strong focus on sustainability, digital transformation, and next-generation vessel design, reinforcing its mission to protect lives at sea while advancing the energy transition.
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