The Offshore Achievement Awards honor Sir Ian Wood for his transformative role in the energy industry.
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In a remarkable celebration of excellence within the offshore energy sector, billionaire businessman and philanthropist Sir Ian Wood has been awarded the 2025 Significant Contribution Award at the Offshore Achievement Awards (OAAs), held at P&J Live in Aberdeen. This accolade recognizes his outstanding contributions to the industry, particularly his transformative leadership at Wood Group, which he helmed for over four decades.
Transforming the offshore energy landscape
Sir Ian Wood, an 82-year-old Aberdonian, is a pivotal figure in the North Sea oil and gas industry. His journey began when he was appointed chief executive of John Wood Group in 1970.
Under his stewardship, the company evolved from a modest local operation into a global powerhouse, boasting operations in more than 50 countries. This remarkable growth saw the company expand its workforce to 42,000 employees worldwide and achieve annual sales of approximately US$7 billion.
Reflecting on his legacy, Steve Rae, last year’s recipient of the Significant Contribution Award and a survivor of the Piper Alpha disaster, praised Sir Ian’s visionary leadership. Rae noted, “This is truly one of the greatest Scottish business success stories, unlikely to ever be emulated.” He emphasized how Sir Ian actively promoted Scottish engineering expertise on the global stage, benefiting numerous companies in the northeast of Scotland.
Commitment to community and innovation
Beyond his corporate achievements, Sir Ian has demonstrated a profound commitment to philanthropy and community development. In the past decade, he founded Opportunity North East, a private sector-led, not-for-profit organization aimed at diversifying the local economy. This initiative seeks to capitalize on commercial opportunities in various sectors, including food and drink, life sciences, tourism, and digital technology.
Additionally, Sir Ian chairs ETZ Ltd, an organization established in 2021 to leverage the region’s expertise in oil and gas while exploring opportunities in offshore wind, green hydrogen, and carbon capture and storage. His unwavering dedication to philanthropy is further exemplified by the establishment of The Wood Foundation in 2007, which has become one of Scotland’s most impactful charities.
A night to remember at the Offshore Achievement Awards
The Offshore Achievement Awards ceremony, hosted by BBC presenter and civil engineer Ayo Sokale, brought together over 400 guests from across the energy sector. Although Sir Ian was unable to attend in person, he recorded a heartfelt acceptance speech that was shared during the event, highlighting his gratitude and commitment to the industry.
This year’s awards also recognized several other outstanding contributions within the sector, including the Emerging Technology Award won by Puls8 and the Field Proven Technology Award awarded to TechnipFMC. The ceremony showcased the remarkable talent and innovation present in the offshore energy industry, reinforcing the importance of collaboration and excellence.
