Ferguson Marine has appointed a technical director and chief financial officer to help strengthen the Port Glasgow shipyard’s strategic leadership and planning skills.

Eddie Purves joins as technical director, with 30 years’ experience in commercial and naval shipbuilding in Scotland, initially with Kvaerner Govan, before the yard was taken over by BAE.

He spent the last year as managing director of A&P Tyne, which operates the largest commercial dry-dock on the east coast of England. Previous roles include working with Type 26 vessels for the UK Navy and shipyard upgrades with BAE.

Purves will have a key role within the yard's senior leadership team, as it works to complete the two vessels under construction for Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL), restructures during 2023/24, positions for additional projects on behalf of BAE Systems and targets the small vessel replacement programme for CMAL.

Eddie Purves, the new technical director at Ferguson Marine

Initially on a one-year contract, Carla Roberts joins as chief financial officer, having recently served as financial director within Water Retail. She joins from a background across a variety of businesses in various stages of turnaround, as well as experience with local governments.

Most recently, Roberts was the interim finance director at Business Stream, and before that was interim chief financial officer at the Scottish Football Association during 2020 and 2021.

She has also worked in senior finance positions at the Weir Group.

David Tydeman, chief executive of Ferguson Marine, said: “We have a busy year ahead, with the planned handover of Glen Sannox in late spring, and working to complete hull 802.

“These senior appointments bring new talent and a wealth of experience and will enable us to expand on strategic planning to build a sustainable future for the shipyard.”

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