Graeme Thomson has officially assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer at Ferguson Marine (Port Glasgow) Ltd, beginning his tenure in early May.
Thomson, who began his career as an electrician and entered the shipbuilding sector as an apprentice, brings extensive experience in construction and shipbuilding. Before joining Ferguson Marine, he served as Programme Director at Babcock, where he led the delivery of the Type 31 Royal Navy frigate programme.
His background also includes senior leadership roles at Ledcor, Seaspan Shipyards, and BAE Systems, as well as an MBA from Strathclyde Graduate Business School and a BEng in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the University of Glasgow.
During his first weeks in the role, Thomson has focused on building relationships within the shipyard, meeting staff and stakeholders to better understand the challenges and opportunities the company faces.
Reflecting on his early days at Ferguson Marine, Thomson stated, “It is a real privilege to officially join Ferguson Marine as Chief Executive Officer. The yard has a proud history and legacy, and its people are central to its future success. Over the coming months, I look forward to spending more time with colleagues across the business to see what we can do jointly to make things better for Ferguson Marine and, most importantly, secure some new opportunities.”
Thomson emphasised the sense of community and pride within the workforce, saying, “I’ve already been really impressed by the overwhelming sense of community here and the passion people speak with – it’s a great yard, in a great site and with a great local community supporting it. We just need to turn it into success.”
One of Thomson’s early interactions was with third-year engineering apprentice Teigan McShane, who noted the positive impression made by the new CEO’s approach. McShane said, “It was great to hear that Graeme’s priorities are to make this a place where people are proud to come to work. He spoke about the importance of modernising the shipyard and how we build a strong and sustainable future for Ferguson Marine, which was encouraging.”
Ferguson Marine’s immediate focus under Thomson’s leadership is the build and delivery of the MV Glen Rosa, as well as ongoing efforts to modernise infrastructure and secure future contracts. The company aims to continue its long-standing tradition of Clydebuilt shipbuilding, maintaining its heritage while advancing towards a sustainable future.
