Colin is a Non-Executive Director at The Viking Maritime Group. He is an accomplished maritime professional and business leader and currently holds the position of Vice Principal of Business and Innovation at Forth Valley College. His career trajectory is marked by a series of strategic moves and progressive roles that have shaped him into a seasoned executive with a deep understanding of the maritime industry. Colin is currently a UK Maritime Skills Commissioner and a Director of Forth Valley Chamber of Commerce.
Colin’s professional journey began with BP Shipping Ltd, where he gained invaluable experience as a Deck Cadet and before transitioning to Sea Containers. Here, he served as Chief Officer and Fleet Training Officer, honing his leadership and training skills. In 2004, he made a significant career shift, moving ashore to join Clyde Marine Training.
At Clyde Marine Training, Colin’s career took a meteoric rise. He quickly ascended the ranks, becoming General Manager and then Managing Director in 2008. His tenure was marked by his involvement in the successful Management Buyout (MBO) of the Clyde Group in 2008. Demonstrating his entrepreneurial acumen, Colin expanded the business, establishing Clyde Uniforms, Clyde Safety, and Clyde Training Solutions.
In 2016, he orchestrated the sale of the Group to Northern Marine Group, a subsidiary of Stena AB. Despite the sale, Colin remained integral to the business for an additional four years before taking on the role of Group Managing Director at Stream Marine Group in 2020 to complete a business turnaround during the pandemic.
Success has been a consistent thread throughout Colin’s career, both in terms of financial performance and organisational development. His leadership has been recognised with several prestigious awards, including Best Work Places in Scotland and the wider UK, Great Places to Work, and the coveted Employer of the Year at the ROCCO Awards, which he won an unprecedented two years consecutively. Colin’s individual achievements include being named Young Business Person of the Year and a finalist in the Creative Entrepreneur Awards.
In 2009, Colin joined the board of GCNS and played a pivotal role in the merger and shadow boards of City of Glasgow College. He remained on the board for eight years post-merger, contributing significantly to the £224m New Campus Project and serving as Chair of the Audit Committee.
Colin’s contributions to the maritime industry have been widely recognised. He was elected as a Fellow of the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) in 2013 and a Younger Brother of Trinity House in 2018. He has also served as the President of the Scottish Shipping Benevolent Association, a Member of the Board of Trustees for the Sailor’s Society, and the Chair of the International Association of Maritime Institutions (IAMI).
From 2013 until 2021 Colin was a member of the Merchant Navy Training Board (MNTB) Main Board and in 2020 he was appointed as a Commissioner with the Maritime Skills Commission, further cementing his influence and commitment to the maritime industry.
Email: ColinM@vikingmaritime.co.uk
