Gateshead, United Kingdom – Safinah is pleased to announce the appointment of John Willsher as Business Development Manager, strengthening the company’s senior commercial capability as it continues to expand its independent technical and consultancy services across marine, oil and gas, energy and infrastructure high-value assets.
John brings nearly four decades of international experience spanning marine coatings, vessel efficiency, surface protection, and advanced hull technologies. He graduated from the University of Salford in 1986 with a first-class honours degree in Chemistry before joining International Paint, where he began his career as a paint chemist in development laboratories and later moved into the Marine Marketing Department.
Between 1995 and 2006, John held senior leadership roles within the ultra-high-pressure (UHP) hydroblasting and surface protection contracting sectors, progressing through general management to Managing Director positions.
In 2006, he returned to International Paint, where he played a pivotal role in the global development of foul-release coating technologies, including serving as Market Development Manager for Intersleek products across EMEA and subsequently as Worldwide Market Manager. Between 2017 and 2020, John joined the Oil and Gas Global account team as coating specialist for FSRU and FLNG projects, optimising specifications in these rapidly growing segments.
In 2020, John was appointed Global Account Manager at International Paint, leading teams supporting the world’s largest shipping groups. Most recently, in 2025, he joined ECOsubsea as Global Business Development Director, focusing on ROV-based underwater cleaning solutions and vessel efficiency optimisation.
At Safinah, John will focus on strategic business development, client engagement, and vessel efficiency advisory services – supporting owners, operators, and stakeholders in making evidence-based decisions that reduce technical risk, improve performance, and protect lifecycle value.
“John’s depth of technical knowledge, commercial leadership, and first-hand experience across coatings, fouling control, and vessel efficiency aligns perfectly with Safinah’s independent, data-driven approach. His appointment strengthens our ability to support clients facing increasingly complex performance, regulatory, and commercial challenges.” – Andy Hopkinson, Managing Director at Safinah.
“Safinah’s reputation for technical independence, structured assurance, and lifecycle thinking is highly respected across the industry. I’m excited to join the team and contribute to delivering practical, evidence-based solutions that genuinely improve vessel and asset performance.” John Willsher, Business Development Manager, Safinah
This appointment reflects Safinah’s continued investment in senior expertise to support clients across the full lifecycle of coating, performance, and risk-critical assets globally.
For further information, please contact Safinah at enquiries@safinah.com or email John directly at john.willsher@safinah.com
