Meet 

Alex 

Gauntt 

– 

our 

new 

Head 

of 

Offshore 

Wind 

UK

In December, we welcomed our new colleague, and it's time for a proper introduction. Alex Gauntt has joined us as Head of Offshore Wind UK. With a diverse background, it may seem unexpected that a man based in Aberdeen now works for Fjord Base in Florø, Norway. However, Alex is no stranger to remote work, and in this article, we’ll take a closer look at how he ended up in this role and what his plans are moving forward.

Pioneering offshore wind development

Alex lives about 30 minutes outside Aberdeen, near the mountains in the Scottish coastal town. Born and raised in Germany, he moved to the UK in the early 2000s to study and secured his first job in the industry right after graduation. This marked the start of a 20-year career spanning offshore and onshore wind, wave and tidal energy, and solar power. He played a key role in some of the UK's first offshore wind projects, moving from planning to actual construction.

Alex describes his career as having two phases. The first half was spent developing projects and setting expectations, while the second half was on the supply chain side—where he saw firsthand how development plans meet reality. This dual perspective gives him valuable insight into the wind energy sector, from concept to execution, across projects of all sizes. Before joining Fjord Base, he led the supply chain division for a floating wind developer in Wales and Scotland. With extensive experience and a strong network in the UK, he was a natural fit for our offshore wind expansion, despite not having prior knowledge of Fjord Base or Florø. After careful consideration, he saw the opportunity as an exciting challenge he couldn’t turn down.

- I’m passionate about helping companies and regions establish their first foothold in the offshore wind market, he says.

And this is exactly what he has been doing throughout his career. Alex has guided many companies through their first steps in offshore wind and finds this pioneering phase particularly rewarding. Now, he aims to develop strategies and secure initial contracts to create sustainable growth for Fjord Base in this new sector.

Working in Florø – from Scotland

Fortunately for us, Alex has extensive experience with remote work, having worked from home for over a decade. Long before the pandemic normalized remote work, he was successfully managing large teams from afar. And he speaks highly of his colleagues at Fjord Base so far. - I feel well-connected to the team despite the distance. I don’t see the geographical gap as a challenge if communication flows well and solid systems are in place for collaboration, he says. When needed, he travels to Fjord Base for in-person meetings, and during his first visit in December, he had the chance to try our cafeteria—and was not disappointed.

What are our biggest challenges? And what opportunities does he see

The biggest challenge he sees is the geographical distance between Fjord Base and the UK projects. It’s no secret that we are located far from many key offshore wind developments. However, Alex is confident that solutions exist to make Fjord Base a relevant player in the market. He emphasizes that by building strategic partnerships and collaboration models, this distance can be turned into a strength rather than a barrier.

When it comes to opportunities, he is an optimist and sees many. He highlights the importance of a gradual, step-by-step approach for Fjord Base. Many offshore wind players make large-scale investments too early, while Fjord Base can take a more measured approach. He believes smaller initial projects can pave the way for major investments and regional growth. His vision is to start with small offshore wind projects and gradually build on them, proving our value and using this as a steppingstone to secure larger contracts.

A Norwegian-speaking Alex?

Alex describes himself as a busy man but prioritizes spending time with his family when he can. He is a father to a nine-year-old and describes his wife as “the most patient woman in the world”—likely due to his dedication to work. He also has a passion for languages and speaks fluent German and English, some French and Italian, and is now learning Norwegian. Naturally, our interview concluded with a confident “hadet bra!”

Alex sees great potential in Fjord Base as a supplier to the UK offshore wind market. He looks forward to contributing to growth and helping us take our first steps in the sector. With his experience, network, and strategic mindset, he is a key asset in positioning us for the energy transition ahead—and we are delighted to have him on board!

He explains the picture with a smile: Every year in December one of my best friends and I dress up as Santa and ‘Tiny’ the Elf (his little helper) to give presents to all the kids in the village. It’s become a bit of a tradition, we are now in our fourth year, and this Christmas we are actually travelling to other villages in Aberdeenshire as well!