Dave Wallis, European representative for OFS Portal, and Paul Mayer, sales and marketing director for sparesFinder, have accepted the positions of chair and vice chair of the PIDX Classification Workgroup, according to PIDX Standards and Guidelines Chair Tim Morgan of Eirô Consulting LP.

The new leadership team will be responsible for revamping the product template approval process, increasing the number of volunteer subject matter experts and promoting wider adoption of the classification standards. "The PIDX Classification Standard is now seeing renewed interest," said Morgan, "and Dave and Paul have the experience and the leadership necessary to establish it as the product classification system of choice for the industry."

Wallis and Mayer will replace Rob McEwan who recently resigned as chair. “I would like to thank Rob for his dedication in sustaining the Classification Workgroup over the past few years," Morgan added. "He managed to significantly increase the number of materials classified by the group and was instrumental in obtaining support for the PIDX Classification Standard from one of the industry's largest oil and gas operators."

Wallis was previously the vice chair of the Classification Workgroup. He has been an active PIDX volunteer in recent years, providing leadership within PIDX Europe. He has 33 years of worldwide experience in the oilfield service and supply industry, with more than 7 years experience in e-commerce.

Mayer studied chemistry at university and has previously worked in a number of industries including commercial insurance and pharmaceuticals. An expert in the field of data harmonization, he has been with sparesFinder since 2000 in a number of different roles. He is currently sales and marketing director.