Richard Schofield has taken up the role of Managing Director at HAV Design.
15 January 2025 – When Richard Schofield took up the role of Managing Director at HAV Design at the turn of the year, he joined a company with a long history, strong professional competence and clear ambitions for the future.
With roots in both international industry and the maritime environment of Sunnmøre and Norway, he now looks forward to building on what HAV Design already is – while also taking the company further.
At a time when shipowners are facing rising costs, stricter requirements for documented performance and greater global uncertainty, Schofield points to the need for more predictable project execution, stronger decision-making foundations prior to contract award, and design solutions that reduce risk, lower lifecycle costs and improve profitability over time.
As an independent ship designer with broad operational experience, HAV Design will, according to Schofield, be a close collaboration partner for shipowners, shipyards and suppliers, from early phase, through the build period and throughout the vessel’s entire lifecycle.
Richard was born and raised in York, in the north of England.
“I come from a family where high expectations are the foundation, and where we, as a community, are encouraged to get the most out of the opportunities we are given through hard work and a willingness to learn. That has shaped me more than anything else,” he says.
After completing his education, Schofield started his career in the UK defence industry at BAE Systems. There, he was given early responsibility for complex development and delivery projects, in an organisation with very high requirements for structure, quality and execution. That experience has given him a strong perspective on value creation in complex industrial projects.
“It was a steep learning curve,” he says. “I learned a great deal about systems thinking, risk management, and what it takes to deliver precisely in large projects over time.”
Anchored
Richard lives in Haddal, a small community in Ulstein municipality. The drive is approximately 25–30 minutes from his home to Richard’s new office in Fosnavåg, in the neighbouring municipality of Herøy.
“Today I consider Haddal and Sunnmøre home, and my roots are well established here, for both me and my family. My wife grew up in Haddal, and it has meant a lot for my sense of belonging that we already had a strong network of both family and friends here before we moved from England. The support we receive here, not least for our children, is worth its weight in gold.”
Haddal sits in the heart of the maritime cluster in Sunnmøre – an area where life has long been closely connected to the sea. Fisheries, shipbuilding and industry have shaped both everyday life and the local community for generations. For Richard, this is more than geography. It provides the basis for a natural connection between people, work and the values he encounters in the maritime environment of Sunnmøre.
A leader shaped by collaboration
Looking back at his own development as a leader, Richard points in particular to an early experience in Norway.
“One of the most valuable periods for me was when I spent some time as an apprentice at Ulstein Shipyard before starting further education. Experiencing a Norwegian workplace, with the values and leadership style found here, gave me an alternative perspective on collaboration and leadership early in my career.”
He has carried that experience with him, and it has been important for how he today wants to engage with his colleagues and exercise leadership with a clearly Norwegian approach.
Why HAV Design – and why now
Taking the helm at HAV Design is, in his view, a unique and exciting challenge.
“HAV Design has a strong position as a company with proud traditions, deep competence and extensive experience. The leadership has been stable for a long time and achieved a great deal. At the same time, there often comes a point when a new perspective can be healthy.”
Richard sees a strong foundation to build on.
“Shipowners and shipyards that have worked with HAV Design talk about good experiences, both in terms of collaboration and results. That is a very strong starting point.”
Customer value and documented performance
From the shipowner’s perspective, Richard believes the value of working with HAV Design must be clear and verifiable.
“Customers should experience a knowledgeable design partner who asks the right questions and contributes to better choices throughout the vessel’s lifecycle. Choices that control risk and deliver better earnings in practice, not only on paper.”
A concrete confirmation of this is the development of the service vessel ESVAGT NB 1094, based on HAV Design’s HAV 833 design, which has been nominated by Offshore Support Journal (OSJ) for Offshore Energy Vessel of the Year 2026.
The vessel has been developed in close collaboration between ESVAGT and HAV Design for offshore wind operations, and combines methanol-electric propulsion with stringent requirements for operational reliability, energy efficiency and safe operations in demanding conditions. The vessel has been built at CEMRE Shipyard in Turkey.
“For us, this is first and foremost a recognition of ESVAGT’s willingness to invest in new solutions,” says Schofield. “At the same time, it shows the trust that the shipowner and charterers have that we, together, can adopt new technology in a controlled and operationally robust way.”
He emphasises that the decisive signal is not the nomination itself, but that the vessel has been selected and put into operation.
“The shipowner has been an ambitious collaboration partner. The fact that the vessel has won a contract and has been put into service shows that the market has confidence in the design, and in HAV Design’s ability to develop solutions that work in practice, also when adopting alternative fuels in demanding SOV operations. The nomination is a visible confirmation of this collaboration and the value created together.”
Looking ahead
Looking ahead, Richard believes every aspect of ship design must be continuously evaluated and further developed.
“Costs have increased significantly in recent years. That means we need to become even better at identifying opportunities for smarter solutions, and at distinguishing between what is necessary and what is simply ‘nice to have’.”
He believes there is still significant potential in looking more closely at day-to-day operations.
“There is a lot of talk about fuels and energy efficiency, but many of the major cost drivers are found in daily operations. With roots in both shipbuilding and operations, HAV Design is well positioned to identify both small and large changes that, together, improve competitiveness.”
Schofield believes sustainable ship solutions must be based on function and performance, not on early technology choices. When designs are developed with clear goals for operational performance, grounded in customer needs and documented knowledge, it leads to better decisions and more robust solutions over time. In this way, ship design can contribute meaningfully to the green transition, without becoming locked into immature or incorrect approaches.
When insight guides the choices
“For me, leadership and ship design are about the same thing,” says Schofield. “Understanding connections, listening well and taking responsibility for the whole. When insight guides the choices we make, we can deliver designs that work, not only on the drawing board, but in operation, over time. That is where HAV Design will make the biggest difference.”
Facts about Richard Schofield
- Managing Director of HAV Design from 1 January 2026
- Over 20 years’ experience from industry and maritime businesses
- Started his career in the UK defence industry at BAE Systems, a key supplier to several European naval programmes, including the build of new frigates for the Royal Norwegian Navy
- Has held senior roles at Ulstein Design & Solutions, VARD Electro and Optimar
- Holds an MEng degree in product development and manufacturing from Loughborough University (UK)
- Lives in Haddal, Ulstein municipality, Norway
- Holds both Norwegian and British citizenship
For further information, please contact:
Richard Schofield
Managing Director, HAV Design
Mobile: +47 90 62 76 33
richard.schofield@havdesign.no