Early Life
Sir Ian Clark Wood was born on July 21, 1942, in Aberdeen, Scotland. He was educated at Robert Gordon's College and later studied psychology at the University of Aberdeen, graduating in 1964.
Rise to Success
After completing his university education, Ian Wood joined the family business, John Wood and Son. He quickly rose through the ranks, becoming the managing director in 1967. Under his leadership, the company transformed into Wood Group, a large corporation operating in over 50 countries. He served as Wood Group's CEO from 1967 to 2006 and continued as chairman until 2012. During his tenure, he oversaw the company's remarkable growth and expansion, establishing it as a prominent player in the oil and gas industry. Wood transformed a family-owned fishing business based in Aberdeen, Scotland into John Wood Group, a multinational oil services company listed on the London Stock Exchange.
Key Business Strategies
Ian Wood focused on strategic transformation, transitioning the company from marine engineering to oil and gas services, making it a global player in the energy sector. Wood Group expanded its operations to over 50 countries and had over 60,000 employees.
Philanthropy
In 2007, Sir Ian and his family set up The Wood Foundation. This organization focuses on venture philanthropy, supporting initiatives aimed at improving the lives of people in sub-Saharan Africa and promoting youth development in Scotland. In October 2025, The Wood Foundation donated £40 million (approximately $50 million) to drive the energy transition in Scotland's North-East. In 2015, he donated £4.5 million (approximately $5.6 million) to support the development of oil and gas research at Robert Gordon University.
