A trio of oil and gas veterans have been recognised for their contributions to industry in the Queen’s Birthday 2020 Honours List.
Robin Watson, chief executive of energy service giant Wood, and Stuart Payne, director of supply chain, decommissioning and HR at industry regulator the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA), have both been appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE).
And Richard Forsyth, chairman of Forsyth’s – which serves the energy and drinks sectors – was made an OBE.
Mr Payne joined the OGA in 2015 having held a variety of leadership positions in the oil and gas industry in the UK and overseas.
He is responsible for the regulator’s activities in support of decommissioning and leads its work with the UK service sector, as well as sitting on the Scottish Government’s Oil and Gas Industry Leadership Group.
Mr Payne said: “I’m honoured and humbled to receive this award, and of course very proud to work as part of this fantastic, innovative industry alongside many talented people.”
Mr Watson joined Aberdeen-headquartered Wood in 2010 and took over the reigns as chief executive in 2016.
He spearheaded the $3 billion (£2.3bn) acquisition of Amec Foster Wheeler in 2017 and is actively engaged with various industry and governmental representative bodies, as well as being a visiting professor at Robert Gordon University.
With more than three decades of engineering and industry experience, Mr Watson was appointed CBE for services to British engineering, industry and international trade.
He said: “I am delighted and humbled to receive this honour.
“My family, friends and colleagues have provided great support throughout my career and have helped me realise my ambitions over the years. For this, I am truly grateful.
“It is a privilege to lead an innovative, future-focused and dynamic business like Wood and work with a passionate team of people, focused on engineering solutions to the some of the world’s most pressing challenges.”
Mr Forsyth has been instrumental in the growth of Forsyths over the last 50 years.
Starting out as a coppersmith, crafting pot stills for the local whisky distilleries in Speyside, he moved over in to management side of the business in the late 70s. Over the subsequent 40 years through acquisition, diversification and sheer determination he grew Forsyths from a small domestic coppersmith to a globally recognised brand.
The group now has over 400 employees with five facilities in Scotland and one in Hong Kong, together providing a range of services to the distillation and oil and gas industries.
The Moray business luminary is a keen supporter of Rothes Football Club and has been a key backer of the club over the last 40 years.
Commenting on the announcement, his son managing director Richard Ernest Forsyth said: “This is a very proud moment for our family and the company, we are delighted that my father has been recognised for his significant contribution to the local economy and community over the years”
