Key appointment to take EQUANS forward

EQUANS Australia & New Zealand has appointed highly-experienced energy solutions, technical services and facilities management leader Patrick Guédel as its new Chief Executive.

Mr Guédel has taken on the role after leading ENGIE Energy Solutions South Africa.

The key appointment has coincided with EQUANS signing a multi-technical services agreement with the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute (VCCRI) in Sydney.

Mr Guédel has significant expertise leading global businesses across a range of technical services and products in a career spanning more than 30 years. He has worked in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and has an MBA from the prestigious ESCP in Paris.

He is passionate about growing profitable businesses and has an impressive track record of pipeline growth, underpinned by a strong customer focus, making him the ideal leader to drive EQUANS’ growth ambitions in Australia and New Zealand.

“I am looking forward to working with EQUANS Australia & New Zealand, in an industry which is quickly recognising how important it is to integrate building services, management, strategy and operations,” Mr Guédel said.

“We have a great deal of respect for the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, and we’re looking forward to also bringing our expertise in facilities management to its operations.”

The senior leadership appointment has coincided with the signing of an agreement with the VCCRI, an Australian non-profit medical research facility dedicated to finding cures for cardiovascular disease.

In the heart of Sydney, at Darlinghurst, the research hub is home to more than 20 research laboratories and the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute Innovation Centre, across eight storeys.

The agreement includes basing a permanent full-time Facilities Engineering Manager on-site, who will manage not only EQUANS Services, but will be integrated into the VCCRI family and oversee 20 contractors, covering a full range of integrated hard and soft services.

EQUANS will provide maintenance and services for a diverse range of equipment including the thermal plant and its chiller and steam boilers; non-comfort ventilation to specialist areas such as the Zebrafish breeding area; and the pressure-controlled, P1, P2 and P3 laboratories area; infection control rooms; medical vacuum pumps; and refrigeration services.

EQUANS will also provide maintenance to the electrical distribution system, including generators and UPS; the full fire detection and suppression systems; and the annul fire, water and electrical certifications for the facility.

EQUANS Growth and Strategy team liaised with the VCCRI to develop an innovative and compelling solution for its facility needs, which has resulted in a four-year, multi-million-dollar maintenance contract, providing a one-stop-shop solution to meet its statutory mechanical, electrical and fire service requirements.

About EQUANS ANZ

EQUANS Australia & New Zealand is leading the way in multi-technical building services with divisions across audio visual, mechanical, fire, communication & electrical solutions.

Employing almost 1,000 people and part of a global leader operating in 17 countries, we specialise in improving energy performance in the industrial, public and commercial building sectors through developing and implementing cost-saving smart energy and environmental efficiency services.