Post-acquisition: Growing Together
31 MAY 2025
Post-acquisition: Growing Together
Unpacking the growth and capability enhancements since Aquatic joined Motive
When two companies come together, it’s more than just a business transaction - it’s about blending expertise, teams, and cultures to create something even stronger.
Approaching nine months on since Aquatic joined Motive Offshore Group, we caught up with Steven Kilpatrick, European Rentals Director, and Kerry Scott, HSEQ and People Director, to chat about what this means for the company. From integrating knowledge to growing the business, they share their insights on how the acquisition is setting Motive, and our people, up for a successful future.
L-R: John Davidson, Global Service Manager and Steven Kilpatrick, European Rentals Director, pictured at the Motive Facility in Peterhead
Steven, how does your role capitalise on your extensive experience from Aquatic, and what impact do you foresee on Motive’s trajectory?
Steven Kilpatrick: My journey started with Aquatic in 2011 as a Project Engineer, progressing through various leadership roles until I was appointed Managing Director. Over the years, I’ve been involved in everything from project execution to business development, growing both our fleet and service offerings globally.
At Motive, my role continues to draw from that experience to enhance operational efficiency and knowledge sharing across regions. What’s particularly exciting is that Aquatic and Motive weren’t competitors; we historically operated in the same space and instead of rivalry, adopted a “room for everybody” approach. This allowed us to leverage our respective strengths and ultimately deliver enhanced outcomes for our clients. Our integration enables both teams to learn from one another, expanding our technical capabilities and strengthening our global service delivery.
Kerry, what drove Motive’s decision to acquire Aquatic, and how have you worked to bring the teams together?
Kerry Scott: The decision to acquire Aquatic was driven by the immense value of combining two pools of expertise.
Beyond the operational advantages, the key priority has been ensuring a smooth transition for our people. We’ve focused on transparent communication, consistently communicating during the transition to keep everyone informed and engaged. Our goal is not just to merge two companies, but to create a unified team where everyone feels valued and invested in our shared future.
Both, from your experience, what are the key factors in successfully integrating teams and expertise from different organisational cultures?
Steven: Successful integration hinges on open communication, leadership accessibility, and mutual respect between teams. At Aquatic, we had a relatively small but highly specialised team, whereas Motive had a larger, more diverse workforce. Bringing these groups together has been about recognising strengths rather than imposing a new way of working.
Kerry: We also knew it would be key to foster a ‘one team’ mindset while ensuring practical steps - like cross-training, standardising best practices, and providing regional support - are in place. This has allowed us to seamlessly integrate while maintaining operational excellence.
Looking ahead, how do you envision the future of Motive with the integrated strengths of Aquatic’s resources?
The focus is on sustainable growth — both in business expansion and people development. With the combined expertise, we can enter new markets, diversify our offerings, and strengthen our presence in key regions. The more we grow, the more opportunities we create for our team members to develop.
- Steven Kilpatrick
While we achieved a lot during our initial integration, this is an ongoing journey. We’ll continue embedding best practices, supporting employees, and fostering an inclusive culture in all our global offices. The emphasis remains on innovation and collaboration, ensuring we remain resilient and prepared for future opportunities.