Strategic Partnerships

HII is expanding shipbuilding capacity via strategic partnerships and distributed manufacturing. Outsourced hours doubled in 2025, aiming to quadruple within two years. A structural assembly network includes 23 partners, growing further. Key moves include acquiring a Goose Creek facility for submarine and aircraft carrier modules, partnerships with six shipbuilders for Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, and international collaborations with Hyundai Heavy Industries and Babcock International Group to enhance production efficiency and strengthen the industrial base.

Pure Energy Minerals appointed Cam Hosie, SLB’s New Energy SVP and former 8 Rivers CEO, to its board, enhancing expertise in decarbonization technologies and lithium extraction. Hosie’s leadership strengthens ties to SLB’s $3.2B R&D infrastructure, potentially accelerating Nevada brine projects under their 2019 partnership. His appointment aligns with rising lithium demand and SLB’s focus on modular direct lithium extraction (DLE) systems. While analysts highlight strategic advantages for tech commercialization and EV supply chains, challenges include leadership transition risks and market skepticism. The move follows Patrick Galletti’s departure, reflecting sector trends prioritizing operational expertise amid global lithium market shifts.

The ISG Provider Lens™ report (September 2025) analyzes how AI, including GenAI and agentic technologies, transforms finance and accounting outsourcing (FAO) by shifting vendors from back-office roles to strategic partners. Across 48 providers in four domains—invoice-to-pay, order-to-cash, R2R/tax, and FP&A—AI automates workflows, reduces manual tasks by 60%, enables real-time insights, and supports predictive financial planning. The study evaluates innovation, global adoption, and vendor capabilities, emphasizing AI co-pilots, blockchain integrations, and tools turning spreadsheets into dashboards, to help enterprises benchmark partners reshaping CFO priorities and operational agility.