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.”
