Wood Group chief Bob Keiller to retire at year-end

ENERGY services giant Wood Group has promoted Robin Watson to the role of chief executive following Bob Keiller’s decision to retire at the end of the year.

Bob Keiller said he would miss Wood Group, which he has led since November 2012

The Aberdeen-based company said Watson’s appointment, which starts at the beginning of January, “represents a natural evolution in the group’s leadership”. Watson is currently group chief operating officer, a role he has held since April. He joined the group in 2010, and has served on its board as an executive member since 2013, firstly as chief executive of Wood Group PSN.

The company’s chairman Ian Marchant said he would like to thank Keiller for his “significant” contribution to the group.

Watson, who has more than 25 years’ experience in the oil and gas industry, said: “I am delighted and honoured to have the opportunity to lead Wood Group in the next stage of its development.

“I look forward to leading the team as we develop and execute our strategy to support our global customer base as we continue developing innovative and cost efficient solutions.”

Keiller, who was appointed Wood Group chief executive in November 2012, said he is “delighted” with the organisation’s progress over the last five years.

In August the group said it had cut about 5,000 jobs since the start of the year as it battled falling oil prices. It started out in the 1900s as a ship-repair and marine-engineering firm, acquiring PSN in 2010 and also comprising Wood Group Kenny and Wood Group Mustang.