Paul Jukes, PhD

President, MCS Kenny, Houston

Wood Group has allowed me to develop my career. The company’s very, very good at this. Given that I’ve been with the company for a decade, it’s good at retention as well.

I started with J P Kenny in 2001 and transferred to in Houston 2005. I enjoyed the challenging work on ultra-deep water and high-temperature projects; making successes out of them was even better. So by September 2009, Wood Group asked me to be president of MCS Kenny Houston, focusing on riser operations for the Americas.

For me and my team now, it’s all about innovation and how to apply it effectively on a project: for example, the development and use of advanced analyses for risers and pipelines, development of geotechnical tools, or R&D for harsh arctic environments.

Today, I get to explore the business aspects of new ideas and novel methodologies, delivering them to existing markets for new sources of revenue. I rather think we have here the “technology arm” of Wood Group and that helps the company as a whole. I love my current focus on innovation and Wood Group has enabled me and my whole team to make this happen globally.

The team itself is both educated and technically strong…diverse and dynamic. I have learned that this balance is key. Wood Group actively promotes this kind of mixture; it makes the culture – for me – just about perfect.

Wood Group as a whole sees that innovation is real added value; it also makes for long-term sustainability and makes me even more capable.