Robin Watson to succeed Lord Smith at Forth Ports – Daily Business

Forth Ports has appointed a former chief executive of Wood Group as chairman to replace Lord Smith of Kelvin who is retiring.

Lord Smith has held the role since 2015 and is stepping down in accordance with corporate governance guidelines at the conclusion of his 10-year tenure.

He said:“It’s been an honour to have worked with the fantastic team at Forth Ports over the last decade. We have achieved a great deal together and I wish the company and its people further success.”

Mr Watson, a marine engineer by training, is a non-executive director at Nasdaq-listed Honeywell International and a shareholder nominated director of National Gas.

He is also an operating partner with Macquarie Asset Management and a senior adviser to McKinsey & Co.

Most recently he was a board member of the UK Government’s Investment Council and the Institute of Directors.

He started his professional career in the energy sector, with ExxonMobil and is a visiting professor at the University of Strathclyde, and chairman of Edinburgh Business School’s international advisory board.

He said: “This is a great time to chair the board of Forth Ports, which is a significant part of the UK’s ports infrastructure and the country’s nationally significant assets.

“In addition to providing essential support for the UK’s imports and exports, Forth Ports has significantly improved Scotland’s capacity to develop offshore wind and is consequently at the forefront of the renewable energy sector, with plans for further developments as the technologies around the needs of the nascent floating wind sector emerge.

“Lord Smith leaves the business in great shape and I look forward to working with the board and the management team to continue that positive journey.”

Stuart Wallace, chief executive at Forth Ports, said: “As an ambitious and successful ports business, Forth Ports is privileged to have had Lord Smith chair the board for the last 10 years and for Robin Watson to take over the reins.

“Lord Smith has presided over a period of significant growth for the business as we opened a new port at Tilbury on the Thames and two renewable energy hubs at the Ports of Leith and Dundee.

“The management team and shareholders would like to thank Lord Smith sincerely for his guidance, business acumen and support over the last 10 years and welcome Robin to the role.”