From the 1980s through to the end of the 2000s, the Wood family held (via a series of charities and trusts) a sizable stake in the business, at one point as high as 40 percent of all available shares, giving them considerable sway over decision-making.

[5] From the onset of its operations, the company benefited greatly from a decision made by JW Holdings to diversify into the energy services business at the outset of the North Sea oil industry in the early 1970s.

[13] In 2016, John Wood Group expanded its footprint in the North Sea oil sector through the purchase of the Aberdeen-based business Enterprise Engineering shortly after it had entered administration.

[23][24] In February 2022, John Wood Group announced that it would make a loss of approximately US$222million on an Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System facility for the United States Army Corps of Engineers.

[26][27] In April 2023, the American private equity firm Apollo Global Management, following four rejected bids to do so, walked away from negotiations to take over John Wood Group.