Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA) announced today the appointment of Sandy Hutchison as managing director TAQA UK, replacing Donald Taylor who will leave the role at the end of January 2025, having led the business since 2016.
When he takes up the position of managing director, Sandy will be responsible for TAQA’s UK assets and will further the company’s strategy of safely and efficiently managing late-life operations and delivering excellence in decommissioning.
“Having joined TAQA UK in 2007 and as leader of the Legal, Commercial and Business Services directorate since 2014, Sandy has extensive experience of the business,” said Franco Polo, TAQA’s chief executive officer, Oil and Gas. “He has been instrumental in TAQA UK’s journey of growth and transformation, followed by its present-day focus on late-life operations and decommissioning. And with Donald’s forthcoming departure, Sandy is the right person to steer the UK business going forward.”
Sandy commented: “It is a privilege to lead TAQA’s UK business into the next phase of its journey of late-life operations and decommissioning. We have undergone significant change in recent years having decommissioned our Brae Bravo platform, ceased production at our four Northern North Sea assets in advance of their disembarkation and decommissioning, and embarked upon a substantial programme of subsea P&A activity. Our key priority is to continue our track record of excellence and to deliver safe and efficient performance throughout our organisation, and I’m excited to continue to work with the TAQA team and our supply chain companies to deliver on our strategy.”
Prior to TAQA UK, Sandy was senior legal advisor at Talisman Energy, having started his career in the Energy and Corporate Practice of international law firm CMS, working in their Aberdeen and London Offices. Sandy is a qualified solicitor in Scotland and in England & Wales, has completed the Oxford University (Saïd Business School) Advanced Management and Leadership Programme, and has achieved Chartered Director status of the Institute of Directors.
Donald Taylor said: “It has been my honour to lead TAQA UK since 2016 and I am extremely proud of all that we have achieved together. The coming years will offer some of the most interesting challenges and exciting opportunities in our industry and I wish Sandy and the team at TAQA every success for the future.
Franco Polo added: “We are grateful for the contribution of Donald Taylor to TAQA since he joined in 2009, and in particular during his time as Managing Director for Europe and the UK. He leaves with our thanks and best wishes for the future.”