One of Scotland’s most influential business figures has been honoured at a memorial service that drew mourners from across the world, with tributes paid to a man who shaped Aberdeen and left a lasting mark far beyond the oil industry he helped build.
Sir Ian Wood, the Aberdeen-born billionaire and philanthropist who built the Wood Group into one of the world’s leading energy services companies, died in July at the age of 84. His passing marked the end of an era for the north-east of Scotland, where his influence stretched from the offshore oil fields to the city centre itself.
Among those who gathered to pay tribute was Melinda French Gates, the American billionaire and global philanthropist, alongside Scottish First Minister John Swinney. The presence of both figures underlined just how wide Sir Ian’s reach had been during his lifetime, spanning business, politics, and international development.
Sir Ian took over his family’s fishing boat repair business in Aberdeen during the 1960s and transformed it into a global energy giant. As North Sea oil took off in the 1970s, Wood Group was perfectly placed to grow alongside it, eventually becoming one of the most recognised names in the offshore energy sector worldwide. By the time Sir Ian stepped back from the business, it employed tens of thousands of people across dozens of countries.
But it was never just about the money. Sir Ian became as well known for giving his wealth away as he did for making it. Through the Wood Foundation, he poured hundreds of millions of pounds into projects aimed at tackling poverty and improving opportunities, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and across Scotland itself. His work in countries like Ethiopia and Rwanda earned him recognition far beyond the business world.
Closer to home, his impact on Aberdeen is hard to overstate. The transformation of Union Terrace Gardens into a modern public space was one of his most visible contributions to the city, a project that sparked plenty of debate but ultimately delivered a renewed green heart for Aberdeen. He also backed major investment in education and skills development across the north-east, working to ensure young people had the tools to succeed in a changing economy.
John Swinney, speaking at the service, reflected on the scale of what Sir Ian had achieved and the example he set for others. The First Minister noted that Sir Ian combined sharp commercial instincts with a genuine commitment to making life better for people, not just in Scotland but around the world.
Melinda French Gates, whose own philanthropic work through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has touched millions of lives globally, was among those who recognised a kindred spirit in Sir Ian. The two had crossed paths through their shared commitment to international development, and her attendance at the service spoke volumes about the respect he commanded in global humanitarian circles.
Those who knew Sir Ian personally often spoke of his energy and his directness. He was not a man who wasted time or minced his words, but he was also someone who genuinely listened and who took the long view when it came to the causes he believed in. Friends and colleagues remembered a man who remained curious and engaged right up until the end, always interested in what was coming next.
His legacy in the north-east of Scotland is already secure. The Wood Group, now operating as John Wood Group, remains one of the biggest employers to have grown out of Aberdeen. The philanthropic work he started continues through the Wood Foundation, which shows no signs of slowing down.
For a city like Aberdeen, which has faced real economic pressures as the oil and gas industry has gone through its ups and downs, Sir Ian represented something important. He was proof that ambition rooted in a place could grow into something remarkable without losing sight of where it came from.
Scotland has produced plenty of successful business figures over the years, but few have combined that success with the kind of sustained, serious commitment to giving back that defined Sir Ian Wood. The service held in his memory was a reflection of that, bringing together people from very different worlds who had all, in one way or another, been touched by what he built and what he gave.