Wood Group has appointed Ken Gilmartin as its new chief executive, effective from 1 July.
His appointment follows an extensive selection process that considered both internal and external candidates.
Following 15 years with Jacobs, Gilmartin joined Wood as chief operating officer in August 2021.
During his time at Jacobs, he held a variety of executive, operational and project leadership roles. Most recently, he was executive vice president of the US engineering group's solutions business, responsible for more than half of its overall business portfolio.
With more than 25 years’ experience, Gilmartin has worked internationally throughout his career, including leading the delivery of major projects and operations in Europe, Asia, North America and the Middle East.
He will succeed Robin Watson, who announced his intention to retire in April. He will step down from the board in July, but will remain with Wood until 30 September in an advisory role to support a smooth transition.
Chairman Roy Franklin said: “Ken has impressed the board with the impact he has made over the last nine months, where he has brought clarity, structure and focus, and a strong client-centric mindset to the role, and by his drive to lead the development of Wood’s future strategy.
“On behalf of the Board, I thank Robin for his many years of service to the company and wish him all the best in his retirement.”
Watson stated: “After 10 years on the board of Wood and having reached an agreement for the sale of our built environment business, I am pleased that Ken will now lead the company into its next phase.”
Gilmartin added: “I joined Wood because I could see the great potential in the company, knowing the value of the skills and expertise required to deliver complex and critical projects, operations, and consultancy solutions.
“In my short time with the business, I have been impressed by the quality of our people, and the strength of our culture and our client relationships, which provide strong foundations on which to build in the years ahead.”
Gilmartin will receive a base salary of £750,000 per annum, alongside benefits including an annual transport allowance of £12,360 and a gross allowance of £150,000 to assist with his relocation to the UK.
He will be required to build up and maintain a minimum shareholding equal to 250% base salary.
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