BOARD OF DIRECTORS
geoff french (62)
group chairman
Geoff is a civil engineering graduate who has been with Scott Wilson since 1968. Following the transition from partnership to limited company in 1995 he was appointed Managing Director, initially of the business in the UK. He has overseen the growth of the Scott Wilson business in the UK and the major international business centres, ensuring the Group’s continued position in the top ten engineering consultancies. He was appointed Executive Chairman in 2002 since when the Group revenue has trebled and he oversaw the highly successful flotation in March 2006. In 2008, he became Non-Executive Chairman of the Group. In 2005 he was elected to the Executive Committee of FIDIC, the International Federation of Consulting Engineers. In 2008, he became a vice President of the Institution of Civil Engineers and currently he is the Chairman of the ACE (Association for Consultancy and Engineering) in the UK.
hugh blackwood (61)
group chief executive
Hugh joined Scott Wilson in 1971 and developed his career as a civil engineer in the Road and Railways Sectors. He was made a partner in the business in 1989. In 1995 Hugh led the acquisition of the former British Rail engineering offices in Swindon and Glasgow and took on the role of Chief Executive Officer of the UK Railways Division. In May 2005 Hugh was appointed Joint Chief Executive of the Scott Wilson Group charged with particular responsibility for the continued successful growth of the International and UK Railways Divisions. With effect from 1 May 2008, Hugh became Group Chief Executive.
sean cummins (46)
group finance director
Sean was appointed Finance Director and a member of the Main Board on 1 October 2007. From 1999 to 2007 he was the Group Finance Director of Yule Catto & Co plc, a leading specialty chemical company. Sean qualified as a chartered accountant with Price Waterhouse (now PricewaterhouseCoopers), before joining Invensys plc where he held a number of roles including UK Finance Director of Hawker Batteries Group and Divisional Controller of BTR Power Systems.
stuart doughty, cmg (65)
senior non-executive director
Stuart was appointed to the Scott Wilson Main Board in 2005 prior to the flotation in March 2006. He is Chairman of Somero Enterprises Plc and Silverdell PLC and Non-Executive Director of Aigis Ltd. He was Chief Executive of Costain Group PLC between 2001 and 2005. He has previously held the offices of Chairman of the Kennedy Construction Group Limited, Alstec Ltd and Beck & Pollitzer Ltd (1998–2001), Chief Executive of Acer Partnerships Limited (1995–1997) and Director of Hyder Plc (1995–1997). Stuart has also held executive positions with Alfred McAlpine, Tarmac and John Laing. He is a Governor of King’s School, Worcester. He is the Senior Independent Director, Chairman of the Remuneration Committee and a member of the Audit and Nominations Committees.
christopher kemball (62)
non-executive director
Christopher joined the Main Board of Scott Wilson in January 2009. He is Chairman of The Davis Service Group Plc and Vice Chairman of Hawkpoint, the independent advisory firm. Christopher, who holds a BA Hons in Law from Cambridge, was a Non-Executive Director of W.S. Atkins Plc from 2002 until 2006 and has also held Non-Executive positions with BPT Plc and Control Risks Group Limited. Christopher has a background in investment banking, having held executive positions with Kleinwort Benson, Dillon Read, Baring Brothers and ING Barings. He is a member of the Audit, Remuneration and Nominations Committees.
james newman (59)
non-executive director
James was appointed to the Scott Wilson Main Board in 2006. He is Chairman of a number of public companies and a Non-Executive Director of Dignity plc and other private companies as well as a Governor of Sheffield Hallam University. He was formerly Deputy Chief Executive and Group Finance Director of Kelda Group plc and other public companies. He was Chairman of Waste Recycling Group plc and a Non-Executive Director of Richmond Foods plc before their respective takeovers in 2003 and 2006. James is a Chartered Accountant and Member of the Association of Corporate Treasurers. He is Chairman of the Audit Committee and a member of the Remuneration and Nominations Committees.
geoff redwood (57)
company secretary
Geoff joined Scott Wilson in 1984 and has been Group Company Secretary since 1998. He has responsibility for Group statutory compliance, servicing of the Board and Board Committees, the Group insurance programme and managing corporate and property legal affairs.