Olivier Lhommet is a seasoned mechanical engineer and technology executive with over 15 years of experience in the oil and gas industry. Currently he serves as the chief information officer at Valaris Limited where he is responsible for pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the oil and gas industry and beyond. His expertise and experience make him a respected figure in both mechanical engineering and technology circles.
Please tell our readers about your journey in the industry.
My journey in the industry began after completing my mechanical engineering degree. I started his career as a mechanical and controls engineer for a service and equipment company, which is now a part of Schlumberger. Later, I shifted my focus to the offshore drilling industry, specifically working in the well control group where I was responsible for safety systems' maintenance during the drilling process.
In recent years, I have diversified his skills by transitioning into the IT space. I have been leading my company's IT department for four to five years, utilizing my technical knowledge and leadership skills to drive innovation and success in the technology realm.
What are the challenges that you have observed in the industry?
Cybersecurity is a top priority for IT systems in the DIS, but a lack of investment has led to challenges in optimizing previous investments, dealing with system obsolescence, and extending asset lifespans. Keeping up with digital trends and providing a similar digital experience to employees, at home or at work, is crucial. Data silos also present a challenge due to different perspectives on ownership and usage. It's essential to distinguish between truly impactful technologies and hype. While AI and machine learning are popular topics, few companies have implemented them at scale and in production. Managing expectations is crucial when taking a pragmatic approach.
“The strategy and role that a CIO should have in order to run their organization in a seamless manner involves staying informed about trends and potential changes in regulation and customer needs.”
What is that exact strategy and role that CIO should have in order to run their organization in a seamless manner?
The strategy and role that a CIO should have in order to run their organization in a seamless manner involves staying informed about trends and potential changes in regulation and customer needs. This allows them to build a roadmap for the future that is not prescriptive to a single vendor or regulatory requirement, while still being able to respond effectively to any changes that may arise. Essentially, the CIO needs to stay aware and adaptable in order to ensure the organization can operate smoothly.
How do you envision the future of the industry?
In my opinion, the future of the industry is very exciting because of the rapid pace of change and the opportunities to apply new technology in a meaningful way to businesses. While not all technology is currently ready to be deployed at scale, there are many tools and aspects of technology that have been rolled out, such as Starlink for satellite communication and technology similar to Chat GPT that Microsoft is looking to bring into an enterprise setup with more control over data. This opens up new ways to interact with end-users and to rethink how services are delivered in the future. While significant changes may take longer than six months to implement, they have the potential to dramatically change how employees and IT services interact with each other.
