 | |
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| LSE: WG. | |
| ISIN | GB00B5N0P849 |
| Industry | Energy andMaterials |
| Founded | 1982; 43 years ago (1982) |
| Founder | Ian Wood |
| Headquarters | Aberdeen, Scotland, UK |
Key people |
|
| Products | Engineering and consulting |
| Revenue |  US$5,900.7 million (2023)[1] |
| US$114.2 million (2023)[1] | |
| US$(105.2) million (2023)[1] | |
Number of employees | 35,000(2025)[2] |
| Website | www |
John Wood Group plc, commonly known asWood, is a Britishmultinational engineering and consulting business with headquarters inAberdeen, Scotland. It is listed on theLondon Stock Exchange. As of February 2025, the group employs 35,000 people globally.[3]
The business was founded in 1982 byIan Wood, when it split away fromJW Holdings, the largest fishing company in Scotland.[4][5] Ian played a pivotal role in the management and direction of the company, being its chief executive officer (CEO) through to 2006 as well as its chairman through to 2012. From the 1980s through to the end of the 2000s, the Wood family held (via a series ofcharities andtrusts) a sizable stake in the business, at one point as high as 40 percent of all available shares, giving them considerable sway over decision-making.[6]
From the onset of its operations, the company benefited greatly from a decision made by JW Holdings to diversify into the energy services business at the outset of theNorth Sea oil industry in the early 1970s.[7]
In September 2000, John Wood Group acquired the Texas-based oil rig businessMustang Engineering Inc. for $137.5 million.[8][9] Prior to the purchase, the business employed 6,000 staff worldwide while the purchase Mustang Engineering Inc, which was renamedWood Group Mustang, added another 1,200 employees.[9] Post-purchase, the entity has continued to operate as asubsidiary of John Wood Group.[10][11]
During 2002, following several years of speculation that the company would do so,[9] John Wood Group waslisted on theLondon Stock Exchange.[4][12]
In 2011, the company sold off its well support division toGeneral Electric (GE) in exchange for $2.8 billion (£1.73 billion); it also conducted unsuccessful negotiations with GE over prospective co-operation on itsgas turbine business as well. That same year, the Wood family reduced their 11 percent stake in John Wood Group to 1 percent in exchange for £366 million.[6]
During 2012, John Wood Group started providing environmental consultancy work to relation toHeathrow Airport's proposed expansion.[13] The company has also been involved in other transport infrastructure schemes, such as the potential reopening of theWatford and Rickmansworth Railway.[14]
In 2016, John Wood Group expanded its footprint in the North Sea oil sector through the purchase of the Aberdeen-based business Enterprise Engineering shortly after it had enteredadministration.[15]
In March 2017, the company announced it would acquire its rival,Amec Foster Wheeler, in an all stock deal, valued at approximately £2.2 billion.[16] Following approval from theCompetition and Markets Authority,[17] the transaction was completed on 9 October 2017.[18] In the months following the transaction, John Wood Group opted to sell off some of the recently-acquired portions of Amec Foster Wheeler, including its North Sea oil & gas interests and its North American nuclear operation.[19][20]
During the 2010s, John Wood Group was involved in the design and construction of several civilnuclear power stations across the UK.[21][22][23] In 2020, the company's nuclear division, including itsdecommissioning work atSellafield, was sold to the American conglomerateJacobs Engineering Group in exchange for £250 million. The proceeds of the sale were stated to by used to reduce company debt and support its increasing focus on growing areas likerenewables.[24][25]
In February 2022, John Wood Group announced that it would make a loss of approximately US$222million on anAegis Ballistic Missile Defense System facility for theUnited States Army Corps of Engineers.[26]
During June 2022, the company announced the sale of its built environment consulting business toWSP Global Inc in exchange for approximately US$1.9billion.[27][28]
In April 2023, the Americanprivate equity firmApollo Global Management, following four rejected bids to do so, walked away from negotiations to take over John Wood Group.[29][30] During May 2024, the company rejected a £1.4bn takeover offer made by theDubai-based competitor Sidara, which “fundamentally undervalued” the company.[31][32]
In February 2025, the company's chief financial officer Arvind Balan resigned his position after his professional qualifications had been 'misstated'.[3]
Wood provides consultation, management of assets and engineering services for the energy and materials sector.[33]
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