Scottish businessman and philanthropist Sir Ian Wood dies aged 84

Scottish businessman and philanthropist Sir Ian Wood dies aged 84 First Minister John Swinney paid tribute to Sir Ian, describing him arsenic 1 of Scotland's "most influential concern leaders and philanthropists, a fig whose vision, determination and generosity person near a lasting people connected the federation and acold beyond." Swinney said: "Through his enactment of Wood Group, helium helped alteration a humble household concern into a planetary vigor services company, playing a pivotal relation successful the maturation of the North Sea lipid and state manufacture and establishing Scotland arsenic a world-renowned centre of vigor expertise." He noted that Sir Ian's "devotion" to his location metropolis of Aberdeen had inspired initiatives that person strengthened the North East of Scotland and supported the improvement of the region's system done his tireless advocacy for economical development, innovation and opportunity. Swinney also praised his work on the transition to a lower‑carbon future and his philanthropic efforts, stating: "Sir Ian Wood's bequest is 1 of enterprise, enactment and generosity. He has helped signifier modern Scotland, strengthened its economy, precocious its vigor manufacture and demonstrated the profound quality that purposeful philanthropy tin make," helium said. Scottish Conservative MP for Aberdeen South Douglas Lumsden remarked: "Scotland has mislaid a existent guiding airy of its concern community. Sir Ian was a champion of everything North East, some arsenic a paragon of its system but besides arsenic a philanthropist who did truthful overmuch bully astatine location and abroad." He continued: "He and his workers astur the satellite forged an planetary estimation for excellence successful energy." Lumsden concluded: "The Wood sanction besides meant a helping manus to communities, wherever it went."