Meet Mike (Michael) Warner, from England, UK, his journey led him to the UAE in 1993 after a stint in the UK. Embarking on a professional journey, he found his way to Unique Group in February 2000, marking the inception of a remarkable chapter.
His voyage through Unique Group has been one of growth and evolution, culminating in his current role as the Head of the Diving Division for APAC, stationed in Singapore. Mike’s journey is a testament to the transformative power of dedication and the incredible destinations it can lead us to.
What motivated you to join the company, and what has kept you here for so many years?
Back in 2000, my journey with UG began not just as a professional step, but as an alignment of visions. It was the visionary outlook of Harry Gandhi that drew me in, and a shared perspective of establishing and nurturing a Diving Division to cater to the unique needs of contractors in the wider Middle East region.
Unique was already renowned as a rental powerhouse for survey and subsea inspection equipment, but Harry’s foresight sought to enrich our offerings. He saw the great potential in supplying commercial diving equipment, and luckily for me, he had faith that I could play a pivotal role in turning his vision into reality.
Being part of the ever evolving and growing Diving business over the years has been instrumental in providing the longevity that I have enjoyed and experienced with the company to date.
What has been the most rewarding aspect of working with the company for such an extended period?
Again, being a part of and bearing witness to the incredible organic growth and development of Unique Group over the years into a major force in our field, has been the most rewarding aspect of working with the company to date.
Over the years I have enjoyed forging robust working relationships with personnel within the organization and have taken pleasure in observing the evolution of employees that I have worked alongside.
What advice would you give to new employees or those starting their careers in this company?
Unique Group is a progressive and ever evolving company which values the importance of employee contribution in the quest for achieving its goals.
If employees can demonstrate the desired work ethic, ability and will to succeed then every form of assistance will be provided to enable them and in turn the company, to achieve success and develop a sustainable future for both. Work hard, learn, communicate and exercise integrity.
Can you share some significant milestones or events that have shaped the company’s growth during your time here?
Very significant was the move from being purely a seller of diving equipment to becoming a manufacturer of diving systems and equipment. This started with the acquisition of Hydra Marine in South Africa, an existing producer of diving equipment, and thereafter the establishment of a manufacturing facility in the UAE to cater for increased demand for new dive system builds.
Increasing global coverage with the birth of new operations in Europe, the Americas, Asia, APAC and Africa positioned Unique Group firmly on the world stage as a global player, opening up new opportunities to provide our offerings to a far wider audience.
