Archibald Anderson Bethel (born February 1953) is a British businessman. He is CEO of

Babcock International Babcock International Group plc is a British aerospace, defence and nuclear engineering services company based in London, England. It specialises in managing complex assets and infrastructure. Although the company has civil contracts, its main b ...

, and a main board director. He is president of the Society of Maritime Industries (SMI), and vice-president and treasurer of the

Institution of Mechanical Engineers The Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) is an independent professional association and learned society headquartered in London, United Kingdom, that represents mechanical engineers and the engineering profession. With over 120,000 membe ...

in Great Britain. He is a lay member of the Court of the University of Strathclyde. Bethel is the former president of Scottish Engineering, and former CEO of the Lanarkshire Development Agency.

Early life

Archie Bethel was born in February 1953, in High Blantyre, South Lanarkshire, Scotland, and was educated at High Blantyre primary school,

Hamilton Academy Hamilton Academy was a school in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland. The school was described as "one of the finest schools in Scotland" in the Cambridge University Press County Biography of 1910, and was featur ...

, and the

University of Strathclyde The University of Strathclyde ( gd, Oilthigh Shrath Chluaidh) is a public research university located in Glasgow, Scotland. Founded in 1796 as the Andersonian Institute, it is Glasgow's second-oldest university, having received its royal char ...

, where he received a degree in

mechanical engineering Mechanical engineering is the study of physical machines that may involve force and movement. It is an engineering branch that combines engineering physics and mathematics principles with materials science, to design, analyze, manufacture, ...

Career

Bethel entered the oil industry, joining Vetco Gray in

Aberdeen Aberdeen (; sco, Aiberdeen ; gd, Obar Dheathain ; la, Aberdonia) is a city in North East Scotland, and is the third most populous city in the country. Aberdeen is one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas (as Aberdeen City), ...

before being transferred to Houston, Texas in the United States to become a

design engineer A design engineer is an engineer focused on the engineering design process in any of the various engineering disciplines (including civil, mechanical, electrical, chemical, textiles, aerospace, nuclear, manufacturing, systems, and structural /bu ...

. While in Houston, Bethel was appointed as the director of the

research and development Research and development (R&D or R+D), known in Europe as research and technological development (RTD), is the set of innovative activities undertaken by corporations or governments in developing new services or products, and improving existi ...

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 Scottish Enterprise is a non-departmental public body of the Scottish Government which encourages economic development, enterprise, innovation and investment in business. The body covers the eastern and central parts of Scotland whilst simil ...

network, a position he held until April 1996. He later accepted a post as

chief operating officer A chief operating officer or chief operations officer, also called a COO, is one of the highest-ranking executive positions in an organization, composing part of the " C-suite". The COO is usually the second-in-command at the firm, especially if t ...

at Motherwell Bridge, a major engineering firm located in

Motherwell Motherwell ( sco, Mitherwall, gd, Tobar na Màthar) is a town and former burgh in North Lanarkshire, Scotland, United Kingdom, south east of Glasgow. It has a population of around 32,120. Historically in the parish of Dalziel and part of Lana ...

, Scotland. After leaving Motherwell Bridge in January 2004, Bethel became Chief Executive of

Babcock Marine Babcock International Group plc is a British aerospace, defence and nuclear engineering services company based in London, England. It specialises in managing complex assets and infrastructure. Although the company has civil contracts, its main b ...

, which, with over 8,000 employees at the time, was the largest provider of engineering services to the

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by Kingdom of England, English and Kingdom of Scotland, Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were foug ...

. During his time at Babcock Marine, Bethel oversaw the building of two s, despite cutbacks that were announced in the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review. In April 2010, Bethel was appointed to the main board of directors of

Babcock International Group Babcock International Group plc is a British aerospace, defence and nuclear engineering services company based in London, England. It specialises in managing complex assets and infrastructure. Although the company has civil contracts, its main b ...

PLC.Hamilton Advertiser - article, 19 November 2009 – Archie Bethel
Retrieved 12 November 2010 In January 2016 it was announced that

Peter Rogers Peter Rogers (20 February 1914 – 14 April 2009) was an English film producer. He is best known for his involvement in the making of the ''Carry On'' series of films. Life and career Rogers began his career as a journalist for his lo ...

, 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. In February 2020 it was announced that Bethel would be retiring as CEO of

after being in the role for more than three years. Bethel is expected to stay in the role until a successor is found.

Awards and honours

Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...

(awarded 1996)The Herald, article 15 June 1996 – Queen’s Birthday Honours List
Retrieved 12 November 2010 * Vice-president and treasurer of the

(2001–present) * Fellow of the

Royal Academy of Engineering The Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng) is the United Kingdom's national academy of engineering. The Academy was founded in June 1976 as the Fellowship of Engineering with support from Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, who became the first senior ...

(elected in 2003) and in 2010, a Fellow of the

Royal Society of Edinburgh The Royal Society of Edinburgh is Scotland's national academy of science and letters. It is a registered charity that operates on a wholly independent and non-partisan basis and provides public benefit throughout Scotland. It was established i ...

.The Royal Society of Edinburgh – New Fellows List, 1 March 2010
Retrieved 12 November 2010 * President of Scottish Engineering (2003-2005) *

Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established ...

(awarded 2008) * Honorary

Doctor of Science Doctor of Science ( la, links=no, Scientiae Doctor), usually abbreviated Sc.D., D.Sc., S.D., or D.S., is an academic research degree awarded in a number of countries throughout the world. In some countries, "Doctor of Science" is the degree used f ...

from the

(awarded November 2009)

References

External links

Babcock International Group
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bethel, Archie People educated at Hamilton Academy People from Blantyre, South Lanarkshire Alumni of the University of Strathclyde Scottish engineers Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh Living people Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Scottish chief executives Chief operating officers 1953 births