Just five months after becoming interim chief executive of Mersey Maritime, Ruth Wood has now been appointed to the role on a permanent basis. Tony McDonough reports

Mersey Maritime has announced that acting chief executive Ruth Wood has now been appointed to the role on a permanent basis.

Ruth, a former senior manager at Peel Ports Group and latterly head of commercial at Mersey Maritime, took the helm in July following the departure of Chris Shirling-Rooke.

He left to become chief executive of Maritime UK. Since then, Ruth has demonstrated to the Mersey Maritime board that she is the right person to lead the organisation.

“Ruth has shown us she possesses the skills, experience, drive and vision to continue the Mersey Maritime success story,” said Mersey Maritime chairman, John Hulmes.

“In her short time as interim chief executive, Ruth has already established a track record of delivery. Mersey Maritime’s presence at London International Shipping Week helped reaffirm Liverpool city region’s status as the UK’s leading maritime cluster.

“Her recent appointment to the LCR Combined Authority Business and Enterprise Board, demonstrates Mersey Maritime’s commitment to the region’s economy and growth, as well as providing the maritime industry with a critical voice in local strategy and policy.

“And, in the last few days, Ruth and her team have delivered the biggest and best Mersey Maritime Industry Awards to date in front of a 550-strong audience. We are convinced she is the best person for the job and we wish her every success.”

Joining Mersey Maritime five years ago from Peel Ports, Ruth took on the role of head of commercial. During her eight years at Peel Ports she was a key member of the team behind the opening of the £400m Liverpool2 container terminal.

Mersey Maritime is the representative body of the Liverpool city region’s £5bn maritime sector, with hundreds of members across more than 30 sub-sectors.

“I’m immensely proud of what we have achieved at Mersey Maritime over the past few years and I am honoured to be appointed as permanent chief executive,” said Ruth.

“Mersey Maritime is in the vanguard of one of the most important periods of change in the history of our industry. This is underpinned by the Government’s Maritime 2050 strategy and we are playing a major role in its delivery.

“I’m the first woman to lead Mersey Maritime. In an industry that has long been male-dominated, I am immensely proud of that achievement. And I will continue to strive to ensure we build an industry that is inclusive of all sections of our community.

“We must decarbonise, innovate, adopt and develop new technologies, create jobs, upskill and diversify our workforce and reinvigorate our coastal communities.

“These are big challenges but, every day, I never fail to be inspired by the hard work, creativity and entrepreneurial drive demonstrated by Mersey Maritime’s diverse membership base. We are truly stronger together.”