John Wood Group PLC – Board changes
19 July 2012
John Wood Group PLC ("Wood Group", the "Group") - Board changes
Wood Group announces today a number of Board changes that will become effective
1 November 2012.
Chairman, Sir Ian Wood, will retire as Chairman and from the Board. Sir Ian has
been Chairman since 1982 and was CEO from 1967 to 2006
CEO, Allister Langlands, will become Chairman. Allister has been with Wood
Group since 1991, initially as Financial Director, then eight years as Deputy
CEO and CEO since 2007
Bob Keiller, the Chief Executive of the Wood Group PSN division, will become
CEO
Commenting on these changes, Sir Ian Wood said:
"I have been lucky enough to participate in the very successful and exciting
growth of the UK's oil & gas industry over the last 45 years and seen Wood
Group become a successful global player. We are performing well in a strong
market, with a great management team and good prospects and this is an
opportune time to retire, particularly as we have in place a strong management
succession plan.
"Allister Langlands, who has led the Group extremely effectively in his period
as CEO, and demonstrated clear strategic leadership in the recent period of
structural repositioning through the sale of Well Support, the acquisition of
PSN and return of cash to shareholders, will make a very able Chairman and
provide important continuity.
"Bob Keiller is a highly regarded CEO who has led the integration of PSN with
Wood Group's Production Facilities business and the joint team have now created
the world's leading brownfield production services company.
"Over the years I have had the pleasure of working with some wonderful,
committed, highly skilled and innovative people across the world. I will miss
Wood Group, but will have the satisfaction of knowing it's in really good hands
and look forward to the Group's continuing success."
Commenting on these moves, Ian Marchant, Wood Group's Senior Independent
Director, said:
"The leadership of Wood Group has been one of the most stable in the industry.
Sir Ian has been an extraordinary leader for the Group, guiding the company
from its roots in the North Sea to its position today as a major global oil &
gas services company. The Group and its shareholders owe a huge debt to him,
and to the executives who have worked so closely with him over the years.
"The Board came to the unanimous decision that Allister is the outstanding
candidate to succeed Sir Ian as Chairman and is the right person to lead the
Board as Bob and the operational management team take the Group through the
next stage of its development. In reaching this decision, the Board has
considered carefully the UK Corporate Governance Code recommendation that a
chief executive should not normally go on to be chairman of the same company
and we have thus consulted with representatives of our major shareholders
holding in excess of 40% of the equity in the company. They recognised that
Allister has been with the Group for over 20 years, has been a successful CEO
and provides the necessary continuity at the top level for our people and
customers and, in these circumstances, they unanimously supported the board
changes."
Allister Langlands, who will become Chairman of Group on 1 November, said:
"I'm looking forward very much to taking on the Chairman's role and working
closely with Bob Keiller, an experienced CEO who has performed well with the
Group since he joined us. Bob will be taking over a strong business in a growth
market, with an excellent management team and a clearly established strategy.
Under his leadership and direction we are confident that the Group will
continue its successful growth."
Bob Keiller, the new CEO as from 1 November this year, said:
"I'm honoured and delighted to be taking on the role of CEO. Wood Group is a
great success story, built on an exceptional leadership team, talented and
committed people, and a clear strategy over the years. I'm looking forward to
continuing to work with Allister in implementing and delivering the current
strategic objectives. Under my leadership, Wood Group will continue its focus
on safety, growth, people, customers, strong values and performance."
Alongside these moves, Robin Watson, the current Head of Wood Group PSN in the
UK, will succeed Bob Keiller as Chief Executive of the Wood Group PSN division
and will join the Board on 1 January 2013. Mark Dobler, the new Chief Executive
of the Wood Group GTS division will join the Board on 1 January 2013, having
been with the Group for over 10 years.
Commenting on these new appointments to the Board, Allister Langlands said:
"Robin and Mark have each made great contributions and they will add value to
our Board deliberations."
In relation to the appointments of Robin Watson and Mark Dobler, there are no
details which require to be disclosed under Listing Rule LR 9.6.13R.
Ends -
Robbie M.B. Brown, Group Company Secretary and Head of Legal
Notes to editors:
Bob Keiller
Bob was Head of UK Operations for the Halliburton Production Services division
between 2002 and 2004, becoming the Global Managing Director for the division
in 2004. In 2006, Bob led the buyout of the division from Kellogg Brown & Root
and laid down a unique identity and clear strategy for PSN. In 2010, following
a period of successful profit growth and the development of a number of leading
positions around the world, Bob was instrumental in the sale of PSN to Wood
Group. Since April 2011, Bob has been the Chief Executive of the Wood Group PSN
division and a member of the Wood Group board, during which period he has led
the integration of PSN with Wood Group's Production Facilities business to
create the world's leading production facilities support business, Wood Group
PSN.
Wood Group PSN has secured a number of awards and renewals around the world and
grown from about 22,000 to over 27,000 employees.
Bob is a Fellow of the Energy Institute and the Institution of Engineering and
Technology, and former Chairman of the Entrepreneurial Exchange. Bob has
previously held a number of industry roles including the Chairman of the
Offshore Contractors Association and the Helicopter Issues Task Force.
Bob holds an MSc in Engineering from Heriot Watt University.
Wood Group
Wood Group is an international energy services company with around $6.0bn
revenues, employing over 41,000 people and operating in 50 countries. The Group
has three businesses - Engineering, Wood Group PSN and Wood Group GTS -
providing a range of engineering, production support, maintenance management
and industrial gas turbine overhaul and repair services to the oil & gas, and
power generation industries worldwide.
Following the Board changes outlined above becoming effective, the Board will
comprise six independent non executive directors, five executive directors and
the chairman.
www.woodgroup.com
Enquiries:
Wood Group
Nick Gilman / Carolyn Smith 01224 851 000
Brunswick
Patrick Handley 020 7404 5959
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