The family of Scottish businessman and philanthropist Sir Ian Wood have announced that he “died peacefully at home” in Aberdeen at the age of 84 on Sunday (July 26).
Born in Aberdeen on July 21, 1942, Sir Ian attended Robert Gordon's College and the University of Aberdeen, where he graduated in 1964 with a degree in psychology.
He joined the family fishing business, becoming managing director in 1967, and was responsible for transforming it from a relatively small operation to a huge multinational engineering and consulting business operating in over 50 countries.
He created the Wood Group in 1982 and served as chief executive until 2006 and chairman until 2012. By the time it was acquired by Dubai engineering firm Sidera it employed more than 35,000 people globally.
The success of the company resulted in Sir Ian becoming one of Scotland’s wealthiest men, with an estimated net worth of around £1.7 billion (2020
In 2007, Wood and his family set up The Wood Foundation, a philanthropic organisation dedicated to donating millions of pounds every year to “people, ideas and businesses with the potential to create lasting change” across Scotland and Africa.
Here are 16 fascinating quotes from Sir Ian.
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9. Sir Ian Wood on...winding down drilling in the North Sea
"If we do that we will damage the environment. If we don't have our own oil and gas we'll have to import it because we just don't have any other resources. And if we import it we'll have more potent gas and we'll do more damage to the environment - it would be, frankly, absolutely crazy. It would be detrimental, environmentally." | COMPLIMENTARY
10. Sir Ian Wood on...being called 'boss' by employees
"I think it is a horrible word. I think it is an old style term, boss means bossing. I don’t think I have ever said to anyone ‘you will do that because I am telling you to do it'." | Newsline Scotland
11. Sir Ian Wood...on his own personal wealth
"I had no idea how wealthy I might become. It was never on my mind at all but now I see where I am, I am spending a reasonable amount of time making sure that my wealth is well applied." | Ian MacNicol
12. Sir Ian Wood on...Warren Buffett
“He’s a real character. There is a twinkle in his eye but a hard line too. He’s 84 and still incredibly sharp, and he has an interesting philosophy. He has given each of his children a sizeable philanthropic trust.” | Contributed