Derek Cook, 53, managing director of Semco Maritime Ltd discusses his career path and the importance of leading by example
What did you want to be when you were young?
Once I realised the professional footballer dream was just that, I wanted to be a teacher. Fortunately I’ve been able to nurture this instinct, to a certain extent, via my involvement in our training and development programmes for school leavers and graduates.
What are the main career stepping stones you have taken?
I was always been interested in science and physics at school and enjoyed building things. On leaving school I took up a traineeship as an electrical design engineer with Irvine Switch & Control Panels, which later became part of Bauteil. While working for Bauteil, I was headhunted by Capelrig (18 months after I made an unsuccessful job application to them!)
I joined Capelrig in 1985 as an electrical and instrumentation (E&I) project engineer, becoming a director and shareholder of the company in 1989. Shortly afterwards, I was involved in a management buy-out exercise and remained with Capelrig as operations director prior to the company’s acquisition by Semco Maritime in March 2012.
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