Forth Ports, which owns and operates eight commercial ports across the UK, has announced three new leadership roles as it restructures its senior team “to reflect the increasing importance of its ports in the offshore renewables sector and the general supply chain.”

David Webster has been appointed as Director of Energy.

Webster will be responsible for integrating Forth Ports’ energy team in Scotland “with a view to building on Forth Ports’ strong market position in the energy sector, and in particular, offshore renewables.”

Webster will report directly to CEO Charles Hammond and will retain his existing responsibilities as senior port manager responsible for the ports of Dundee and Leith, where Forth Ports is currently constructing a £40 million offshore renewables hub.

Ross McKissock has been appointed as Director of Unitised “responsible for integrating the commercial team on unitised container and trailer cargo across the group and growing volume.”

McKissock will retain his responsibilities for running London Container Terminal and will continue to report to Paul Dale, Asset & Site Director at the Port of Tilbury.

Derek Knox has been appointed as Head of Operations Scottish Ports.

Knox will have strategic and operational responsibility “for delivering quality performance and maximum efficiency across Forth Ports’ Scottish Ports.”

He will retain his specific responsibilities as Senior Port Manager at the Port of Grangemouth, Scotland’s largest container port, and Forth Ports’ Fife ports, including the Port of Rosyth.

Knox will continue to report to Chief Operating Officer Stuart Wallace.

Forth Ports’ primary shareholder is Canada’s Public Sector Pension Investment Board (PSP Investments).

Other investors include Australian pension funds First State Super and Cbus, and UK pension fund GLIL.

Forth Ports CEO Charles Hammond said: “These new senior positions come at a key time when we are focusing our business on the important areas of offshore renewables, containerised cargo and a resilient supply chain.

“As a group we are investing significantly across the business in these areas including our bespoke renewables hubs in Leith and Dundee and our freeport freight hub in the Thames.

“I have worked with David, Ross and Derek for a number of years, and I am confident they will make an even stronger contribution to the continued development of Forth Ports in their new roles.”