Meet Janko, our Middle East and APAC Divisional Director. Joining the Interocean team in April this year Janko is pivotal to our regional expansion. He shares more about his role and experience in a recent Q&A…
Can you share a bit about your career journey and experience before joining Interocean, and how that supports you in your current role?
My career journey began as a Drilling Engineer offshore in Italy, following my educational background in Petroleum Engineering. From those early days, I’ve dedicated 25 years to working with MODUs and offshore operations, steadily building my expertise and leadership skills. Throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege to work for renowned companies such as Halliburton, Saipem, SBM, and Transocean, taking on roles from Operations Manager and Project Manager to Project Director, and now Divisional Director.
It’s been a long and sometimes challenging journey, but also incredibly rewarding. I’ve travelled the world, collaborated with exceptional teams, and learned from inspiring individuals. These experiences have not only deepened my technical and managerial capabilities but also helped me forge lasting friendships—one of the aspects I value most about the oil and gas industry.
What drew you to join Interocean?
Before joining Interocean, I worked closely with Rob Dalziel for three years, and we’ve been great friends for almost 15 years. Over time, we often discussed finding the right opportunity to build something together. When the chance arose to join a company with a strong reputation in the oil and gas, renewables, and maritime markets, it felt like the perfect moment to embark on a new journey.
What truly drew me to Interocean was its established presence and solid structure, supported by well-established systems—many based on industry-leading procedures and standards. This made it easy to integrate and start adding value immediately. The supportive environment enabled us to launch in a focused and strategic way, setting a strong foundation for the regional growth we’re now driving.
What does a typical day look like for you, and what are your key responsibilities?
I approach each day with a commitment to staying organised and disciplined in how I manage my responsibilities—even though no two days are alike. My role blends strategic planning, people management, and oversight of key projects to ensure we remain on track for growth and profitability.
Some days require a focus on high-level planning and decision-making, while others are dedicated to collaborating with the team, tackling operational challenges, or supporting ongoing initiatives. I strive to maintain a balance between being hands-on and keeping sight of the broader vision, which makes my work both dynamic and rewarding.
Interocean is undergoing significant expansion in the Middle East; what does this roadmap look like?
Our vision is to achieve sustainable growth across MENA, APAC, and beyond, guided by our commitment to the company’s strategy and core values. As part of this expansion, we are establishing five regional offices in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia, Doha, and Singapore—placing us at the centre of key industry hubs.
This expanded presence enables us to attract top talent, strengthen our local connections, and build a world-class team dedicated to meeting ambitious growth targets over the next three years. We are approaching this exciting phase with a structured and strategic mindset, focused on ensuring long-term success and sustainability.
How does Interocean adapt its services to the specific needs of customers in the Middle East?
Interocean leverages its strong reputation and trusted relationships with major operators to expand its reach across the region. This credibility enables us to secure significant contracts for MODU and other assets, where we consistently demonstrate expertise in planning and executing operations safely, on schedule, and within defined budgets.
Our proven track record on previous projects is instrumental in winning new business, providing clients with confidence that we deliver effective, value-driven, and mutually beneficial solutions for all stakeholders.
Interocean’s project driven solutions—including inspections, maintenance, and engineering—are strategically designed to address the full spectrum of current market needs.
Innovation is central to our approach. From drone-based inspections to AI-driven operational optimization, we are actively developing advanced solutions in collaboration with leading asset owners to enhance performance and safety across entire fleet programs
Your experience in the Middle East dates back over 20 years; What are some of the biggest market changes you’ve noticed since then? Have you had to adapt your skillset to meet these changes?
I have been living and working in Dubai and the Middle East since 1999, and over the past two decades, I have witnessed the region’s incredible transformation into one of the world’s leading centers for innovation, technology, and sustainable development. This evolution is driven by the visionary leadership of Dubai, which has created a region that attracts top global talent, embraces cutting-edge technologies, from AI to digitalization, and fosters an environment of continuous progress.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
Outside of work, my family always comes first. I enjoy spending family time with my wife and our nine-year-old daughter and truly cherish the great moments we have together.
I’m also a big sports fan, with a particular passion for basketball and football. Whenever possible, I enjoy attending live matches.
Lastly, one of my key interests is anything connected to the sea and nature – probably thanks to my Croatian heritage and genes!