Tell us about your background
I was born and educated in Scotland, and left school at 16 to complete a four-year technical apprenticeship, before going onto Strathclyde as a mature student and graduating with a mechanical engineering degree. After graduation, I managed to take a year out and travelled the world before taking various technical and executive positions with the Wood Group, Clyde Blowers and Howden.
Why did you choose Strathclyde?
Simple – I chose Strathclyde for its reputation. I’ve always been interested in how things work, and I had a keen interest in space and travel from an early age, so engineering was an obvious career path. I knew Strathclyde had a very strong reputation, and living in central Scotland, it was an easy choice for me.
Where are you now?
I’m currently the CEO designate for Bodycote plc - a FTSE 250 global engineering company focused on heat treatment and specialist thermal processing services. We’re the world leader in our field and I joined in March 2024 and will take over as CEO in May 2024. The company undertakes a variety of techniques and specialist engineering processes which improve the properties of metals and alloys and extend the life of components used in aerospace, defence and automotive applications. Prior to that I was CEO of Megger Group, the world leader in electrical test and measurement equipment used in renewables and grid applications.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
That's a difficult question as there have been so many highlights, including lots of global travel to all areas of the world. On the people side, being around world class executives and seeing how they operate and bring new perspectives which motivate those around them to push themselves even further has been a key career highlight for me.