Dr George Watkins CBE
Director

Dr George Watkins, born in 1943, joined the Conoco Group in London in 1973 and held several senior appointments in both the UK and abroad, latterly as Chairman and Managing Director of Conoco (UK) Ltd, a position he held from 1993 until his retirement in 2002.

A native of Nottingham, Dr Watkins graduated Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Mining and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Geophysics from the University of Leeds. He also holds the Degree of Master of Science (MSc) in Management from Stanford University, California and the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Engineering (DEng) from Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh.

He was President of the UK Offshore Operators Association in 1996, Chairman of the Petroleum Science and Technology Institute, Edinburgh from 1995 to 1996 and was also founding Chairman of the UK Offshore Industry Step Change in Safety Initiative from 1997 to 2000.

Dr Watkins was Chairman of the Scottish Enterprise Grampian from 2001 to December 2004, having been a Board member from 1994. He was a member of the 2006 Royal Society of Edinburgh Committee of Inquiry into Energy Policy for Scotland. In addition to the Maersk Company Ltd, he is also a non-executive director of Abbot Group plc, ITI Scotland Ltd; he is non-executive chairman of the Production Services Network Ltd.

Dr Watkins was appointed CBE in the 2000 New Year Honours List for his services to the UK oil and gas industry.

He and his wife, Elizabeth, have two sons.