Stuart is the Chief Executive Officer for the Forth Ports Group, the third largest port operator in the UK. Stuart assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer role on 1st July 2024, after his predecessor retired from Forth Ports after 23 years. Forth Ports Group operates 7 commercial ports in Scotland and 1 on the Thames Estuary at Tilbury.
Prior to becoming CEO, Stuart was the Chief Operating Officer and Stuart’s responsibilities included both the port and marine activities across the Group. Stuart’s day to day responsibilities included overseeing the operational activities of the business and working with the ports and marine management teams to ensure that the port and marine activities were undertaken safely and efficiently.
Stuart led on Forth Ports interaction with the UK Government’s Freeport initiative both as a key member of the Thames Freeport bid and with both Scottish and UK Governments on the successful bid for the Forth Green Freeport, one of only two successful Green Freeport bids in Scotland.
Stuart has been with Forth Ports since 2002, joining in the first instance as Financial Controller for the Scottish Operation. Stuart then went on to manage the day-to-day operations across Scotland prior to undertaking a 2 year secondment to the Port of Tilbury where he managed both the general port activity as well as London Container Terminal, returning to Scotland in January 2013. Stuart was then appointed Divisional Director for the Scottish Operation overseeing the commercial activities of all seven Scottish ports and the marine management teams operating on the Forth and Tay estuaries. Stuart assumed the role of Chief Operating Officer for the Group in 2017. In 2023, Stuart was appointed Chair of Port Skills and Safety, the industry body focused on improving both safety and skills across the port sector in the UK. Stuart is also a Non-Exec Director of Business Stream, the water subsidiary of Scottish Water and which operates across the UK water retail market. In his role as a Non-Exec, Stuart chairs the Audit and Risk Committee.
Prior to joining Forth Ports, Stuart was a Business Financial Analyst with Motorola Semi-Conductors, Financial Manager with John McGavigan and Company Limited (Automotive printers and moulders) and prior to this completed his Chartered Accountancy qualification with KPMG in Glasgow.
Forth Ports operates key east coast sites, including Grangemouth, Leith, Rosyth, Burntisland and Dundee. The group is investing £350 million in renewable terminals, mixed-use developments, multi-modal transport and fleet expansion through Targe Towage. Currently, Grangemouth anchors the petrochemicals cluster; Leith is Scotland’s largest offshore renewables hub; and Dundee is the port of choice for offshore wind assembly.
The company provides logistics, cargo handling and marine services, supporting industries like energy and construction. With major investments in infrastructure, people and innovation, Forth Ports is driving Scotland’s low carbon future and is central to the Forth Green Freeport.
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