Sir Ian Wood, the billionaire businessman and philanthropist who built the Wood Group into a global energy services giant, has died at the age of 84. His family said he died peacefully at his home.
From fishing to oil
The company began as a family fishing business before Sir Ian took over in 1967. He then created a separate engineering firm to service the rapidly expanding North Sea oil industry.
At its peak, the Wood Group was valued at more than £5 billion and carried out work in the energy sector worldwide. Sir Ian retired as chairman in 2012.
Honours and philanthropy
He was knighted in 1994 for services to the oil and gas industry and later appointed to the Order of the Thistle, Scotland’s highest chivalric order.
Through the Wood Foundation, founded in 2007, he supported investments and charitable work in agriculture and conservation in east Africa, as well as projects in Scotland.
A family statement said: “Sir Ian was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and friend. While many knew him as an entrepreneur, philanthropist and one of Scotland’s most influential business leaders, those closest to him will remember above all his kindness, generosity, determination and unwavering commitment to his family.”
