Sam Laidlaw
Sam Laidlaw | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 3, 1956 Kensington, London, England |
| Occupation(s) | Executive Chairman of Neptune Energy, former CEO of Centrica |
| Years active | 1981–present |
| Known for | Leadership roles at Neptune Energy, Centrica, Enterprise Oil |
William Samuel Hugh Laidlaw (born 3 January 1956 in Kensington) serves as the Executive Chairman of Neptune Energy, an independent exploration and production (E&P) enterprise. He previously held the position of CEO at Centrica, a prominent British company specializing in natural gas and electricity.
Early life
Born to Sir Christophor Laidlaw, who was a former BP executive and chairman of ICL, Sam Laidlaw received his education at Eton College. He graduated with an MA in law from Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge in 1977. Subsequently, he qualified as a solicitor in 1979 while working with Macfarlanes and earned an MBA from INSEAD Business School in 1981.
Career
Laidlaw dedicated twenty years to the U.S.-based oil company Amerada Hess (1981–2001), where he advanced their North Sea operations before assuming the roles of president and COO responsible for global exploration and production from 1995 to 2001. In 2003, he became executive vice-president of global business development at Chevron Corporation. During his tenure as CEO of Enterprise Oil in 2002, he managed the company’s £3.5 billion takeover by Shell while successfully resisting a hostile bid from Italian energy firm Eni.
In January 2008, Laidlaw was appointed to the board of HSBC Holdings plc as a non-executive director and took on the role of lead non-executive director at the UK Department for Transport in 2010. Between 2010 and 2012, he contributed as a member of the UK Prime Minister's Business Advisory Group and held non-executive directorships at Hanson plc until 2007. His leadership extended to chairing the Petroleum Science and Technology Institute in Aberdeen, presiding over the United Kingdom Offshore Operators Association, and directing CBI’s report concerning business and higher education in 2010. Additionally, he led the investigation into the unsuccessful West Coast Rail Franchise competition in 2012.
Laidlaw joined Centrica in July 2006, succeeding Sir Roy Gardner as chairman of its executive committee. In 2015, he established Neptune Energy, where he continues to serve as Executive Chairman.
His advisory contributions include participation on the UK Government’s Energy Advisory Panel and serving as Senior Director at the Department for Transport. Currently, he holds non-executive directorship at Rio Tinto plc and chairs the National Centre for Universities and Business (NCUB).
Personal life
In April 1989, Laidlaw married Deborah (Debbie) Morris-Adams in Aylesbury Vale, Buckinghamshire. The couple has four children: three sons and one daughter.