Archie Bethel

Archie Bethel was born in February 1953,{{cite web|url=https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/officers/ZOFJLwBAEwanRCHfPqljL1D2fK4/appointments|title=Archibald Anderson BETHEL - Personal Appointments (free information from Companies House)|website=beta.companieshouse.gov.uk|access-date=26 October 2017}} in High Blantyre, South Lanarkshire, Scotland, and was educated at High Blantyre primary school, Hamilton Academy, and the University of Strathclyde, where he received a degree in mechanical engineering.

Bethel entered the oil industry, joining Vetco Gray in Aberdeen before being transferred to Houston, Texas in the United States to become a design engineer. While in Houston, Bethel was appointed as the director of the research and development section, but then returned to the United Kingdom in 1985, where he was promoted to the position of managing director (also known as Chief Executive) of Vetco Gray's UK Operations.

In 1991, Bethel was appointed chief executive of the Lanarkshire Development Agency, part of the Scottish Enterprise network, a position he held until April 1996. He later accepted a post as chief operating officer at Motherwell Bridge, a major engineering firm located in Motherwell, Scotland. After leaving Motherwell Bridge in January 2004, Bethel became Chief Executive of Babcock Marine, which, with over 8,000 employees at the time, was the largest provider of engineering services to the Royal Navy.{{citation needed|date=April 2012}} During his time at Babcock Marine, Bethel oversaw the building of two {{sclass|Queen Elizabeth|aircraft carrier|1}}s, despite cutbacks that were announced in the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review.{{citation needed|date=April 2012}} In April 2010, Bethel was appointed to the main board of directors of Babcock International Group PLC.[http://www.heraldscotland.com/business/corporate-sme/babcock-marine-boss-joins-main-board-of-directors-1.1019679 The Herald, article 9 April 2010 – Archie Bethel] Retrieved 12 November 2010[http://www.hamiltonadvertiser.co.uk/news/local-news/hamilton-news/2009/11/19/former-hamilton-academy-pupil-gets-honorary-doctorate-51525-25198240 Hamilton Advertiser - article, 19 November 2009 – Archie Bethel] Retrieved 12 November 2010

In January 2016 it was announced that Peter Rogers, CEO of Babcock since 2003, would retire in August 2016, and be succeeded by Bethel, chief executive of Babcock's Marine & Technology division, who will become chief operating officer from April.{{cite news|title=Babcock chief executive Peter Rogers to retire in August|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-babcock-intl-moves-ceo-idUKKCN0V60IS|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180413124658/https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-babcock-intl-moves-ceo-idUKKCN0V60IS|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 April 2018|access-date=28 January 2016|work=Reuters|date=28 January 2016}}

In February 2020 it was announced that Bethel would be retiring as CEO of Babcock International after being in the role for more than three years. Bethel is expected to stay in the role until a successor is found.{{cite news|title=British engineer Babcock's Archie Bethel to retire as CEO|url= https://www.reuters.com/article/us-babcock-intl-ceo/british-engineer-babcocks-archie-bethel-to-retire-as-ceo-idUSKBN1ZZ0WC|access-date=15 February 2020|work=Reuters|date=6 February 2020}}

• Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (awarded 1996)[http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/aberdeen/scores-of-ordinary-people-share-in-the-awards-with-leading-industrialists-doctors-and-academics-scotland-gets-new-knights-1.450350 The Herald, article 15 June 1996 – Queen’s Birthday Honours List] Retrieved 12 November 2010[http://www.scottishengineering.org.uk/News-Archive/former-president-granted-doctorate.html Scottish Engineering – article, Archie Bethel] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314231546/http://www.scottishengineering.org.uk/News-Archive/former-president-granted-doctorate.html |date=14 March 2012 }} Retrieved 12 November 2010
• Vice-president and treasurer of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (2001–present)
• Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering (elected in 2003)[http://www.raeng.org.uk/about/fellowship/fellowslist.htm?Page=6&Size=20 Royal Academy of Engineering – Fellows List] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305171231/http://www.raeng.org.uk/about/fellowship/fellowslist.htm?Page=6&Size=20 |date=5 March 2012 }} Retrieved 12 November 2010 and in 2010, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.[http://www.royalsoced.org.uk/rse_press/2010/Election_of_new_fellows.pdf The Royal Society of Edinburgh – New Fellows List, 1 March 2010] {{Webarchive|url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20110401144946/http://www.royalsoced.org.uk/rse_press/2010/Election_of_new_fellows.pdf |date=1 April 2011 }} Retrieved 12 November 2010
• President of Scottish Engineering (2003-2005)
• Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (awarded 2008)
• Honorary Doctor of Science from the University of Strathclyde (awarded November 2009)

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• [https://web.archive.org/web/20160918062800/https://www.babcockinternational.com/About/The-board/Archie-Bethel Babcock International Group]

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Category:People educated at Hamilton Academy

Category:People from Blantyre, South Lanarkshire

Category:Alumni of the University of Strathclyde

Category:Scottish engineers

Category:Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh

Category:Living people

Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire

Category:Scottish chief executives

Category:British chief operating officers

Category:1953 births