Mark Rouse to leave role as Dounreay managing director
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Mark Rouse has been praised for his contribution to Dounreay over the past four years after it was announced that he will be leaving his job as managing director.
Staff were told in a statement that Mr Rouse is taking on a role supporting the UK government in delivering on its nuclear ambitions. He described Dounreay as “a great place to work”.
John Grierson, Nuclear Restoration Services (NRS) sites nuclear operations director, will serve as acting managing director for Dounreay for six months while a permanent replacement is recruited. Ross McAllister will be acting NRS sites nuclear operations director during this period.
NRS chief executive officer Rob Fletcher said: “I am very grateful that John Grierson has agreed to join the team at Dounreay. John has deep experience in decommissioning, he joined the industry as an apprentice and is a time-served electrician.
“John has worked in three nations, across such a range of research and generating decommissioning challenges.
“This is an exciting time for the UK nuclear industry and, while I will miss Mark’s contribution to our executive team, his perspective and experience in nuclear decommissioning will be a great asset to government and its nuclear ambitions and a real plus for NRS and the NDA [Nuclear Decommissioning Authority] Group.
“Mark has led the Dounreay business through the transition from a parent body organisation, joining with NRS, and spearheaded the Fit for the Future programme. I would like to thank Mark for his contribution and all his hard work.”
Mr Fletcher told Dounreay staff: “Your safety and that of the site is our highest priority so please remain focused on your important work and take care of each other.”
Mr Grierson said: “I am very much looking forward to joining the Dounreay team and delivering a nationally important mission. I will be regularly based at the site and my first priority will be to meet as many people as possible and learn about your programmes.
“We have some complex challenges but also great opportunities. It’s an exciting time as we launch our new 10-year strategy and really begin to see the benefits of working together as NRS.”
Mr Rouse said: “I am proud of everything we have achieved together and I know John will continue to develop Dounreay as a great place to work delivering against our nationally important mission.”
It was reported in January this year that total spend at the Dounreay site during 2022/23 amounted to £202.4 million, with £113.5m being spent with the supply chain.
The figures were given in the site’s socio-economic annual review.
It showed that almost £1 in every £3 spent with the supply chain went to a small or medium-sized enterprise, with 12 of the top 20 suppliers having a local base in the area.
On 2022 staffing, Dounreay had 1283 employees, of whom 96 per cent lived locally. In addition, there were around 700 supply chain workers at the site.
Last autumn, Dounreay underwent a change of name to incorporate NRS.
A statement at the time said: “Following the joining of Dounreay with Magnox in April, the company that used to be Magnox Ltd has changed its branding and from October 31, 2023, will be known as Nuclear Restoration Services. The Dounreay site will be part of this change but will still be known as Dounreay and will be a division of NRS, contributing high-quality decommissioning locally.”
