When oil was discovered in the central North Sea in 1969, Aberdeen became the operational and supply base for the UK hydrocarbon industry. Ian Wood joined the Aberdeen-based family business John Wood & Son after graduation from Aberdeen University in 1964. Under his leadership, John Wood Group PLC was created and became the United Kingdom’s largest energy services company, with market-leading positions in the UK, US and globally. Ian has been instrumental in taking best-practice solutions from the UK and the US to the rest of the world, and Wood Group now operates in 46 countries with over 27,000 people. Sir Ian has played a most important part in promoting British industry in the energy sector by serving in many positions. Among these, Joint Chairman of the Oil & Gas Leadership Team, a member of PILOT (a joint government oil & gas industry initiative), Chairman of Scottish Enterprise Board and of the British Trade International Oil & Gas Export Board. He was awarded the CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in 1982 and a Knighthood by HRH Queen Elizabeth II in 1994.
Industry Pioneers
