Several prominent Scottish business leaders have been recognised for their achievements in the latest New Year Honours list.
Among them, William Robertson of the Robertson Group and financial services veteran Norman Keith Skeoch were knighted.
Robertson founded Robertson Group in Elgin in 1966 and is executive chairman of the company, which is a family-owned construction, infrastructure and support services business. He is also a past president of the Scottish Builders Federation and was knighted for services to the construction industry and to charity in Scotland.
“This recognition is beyond anything I could have imagined when I founded, what has become, Robertson Group in my hometown of Elgin in 1966,” Robertson commented, adding: ”I am proud that we retain a strong presence there and continue to play an active role in the local business community.”
Skeoch, from Edinburgh and previously chief executive of Standard Life Aberdeen, received his knighthood for services to the financial sector.
He was chairman of the Investment Association and chaired the Ring Fencing and Proprietary Trading Review set up by the UK Government. His current roles include being chairman of the Edinburgh International Festival board.
Anita Frew, the first female chairwoman in Rolls-Royce’s history and one of only 18 women leading boards among Britain’s biggest listed companies, was given a damehood for services to business and the economy.
The Scottish businesswoman said: “I’m sure that if anyone had told me, as a young girl growing up in Scotland with a father and a grandfather who worked at Rolls-Royce, that one day not only would I chair that company but would have the honour to be made a dame, I would not have believed it.”
Stephen Ingledew, the chairman of FinTech Scotland, has been awarded an OBE for services to the UK financial technology sector.
He formed and led FinTech Scotland in 2018, initially as chief executive, and today it is recognised as one of the top fintech cluster management organisations in the UK and Europe.
“It is a huge privilege to be at the heart of financial innovation, shaping the future economy and breaking down barriers and division across the UK, especially with new initiatives such as the Centre for Finance, Innovation and Technology and Innovation Accelerators,” he commented.
Dr Ollie Folayan, chair of Aberdeen-based social enterprise Association for Black and Minority Ethnic Engineers (AFBE-UK) Scotland, was recognised for his services to diversity and inclusion in engineering.
“When my sister and I set out in 2007 to set up the AFBE-UK, we never imagined that so many people would join us on the journey and that so many would benefit.”
He is a fellow of the Institution of Chemical Engineers and and a visiting professor at the University of Dundee’s School of Science & Engineering.
AFBE-UK supports all young people, particularly those from black minority ethnic backgrounds by giving them a platform and the tools to development career aspirations.
Broadband boss Brendan Dick has been awarded the OBE for services to telecommunications and business in Scotland.
The Edinburgh-based businessman was director of BT in Scotland from 2006 to 2018 and chaired the Openreach Scotland Board from 2018 to 2021, following the digital network’s separation from its parent BT Group.
“I started out in the telecoms industry in 1980 - in that time Scotland has moved from a copper-driven telephony country to one that’s exploiting fibre broadband capability in one of the most challenging geographies in Europe – and doing it well,“ he commented.
“I’m delighted to have been part of that journey and, with the broader business community, look forward to Scotland continuing to exploit digital in the global economy.”
Dr Julie Maxton, executive director of the Royal Society - and originally from Edinburgh - also received a damehood for services to science and to the law, while Professor Heather McGregor - provost and vice-principal of Heriot-Watt University - Dubai, received a damehood for services to education, business and heritage in Scotland.
Meanwhile, James McEwan from Islay, four times master distiller of the year and inductee to the Whisky Hall of Fame, was made an MBE.
From the field of sport, Scottish footballers Kim Little and Jen Beattie were made MBEs, as was Scotland captain and Liverpool player Andy Robertson; who is from Glasgow.
Ian Reid of Kilmacolm, who was chief executive of the organising committee of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, was made a CBE for services to sport.
Many people involved in the arts were also honoured in the list, including David Sutherland, illustrator of The Beano, who becomes an OBE for services to illustration.
Andrew Crummy, the artist behind the Great Tapestry of Scotland, has been made an MBE for services to art and cultural heritage.
Two people who helped save one of Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s historic tea rooms in Glasgow have also been made MBEs.
Celia Sinclair Thornqvist, founder and patron of The Willow Tea Rooms Trust, and Professor Pamela Robertson were both honoured in recognition of their work helping to restore the Scottish architect’s original Willow Tea Rooms in Glasgow’s Sauchiehall Street.
Professor Peter Mathieson, principal and vice-chancellor of the University of Edinburgh, was knighted for services to higher education.
He has held the role since February 2018 and before that was the 15th president of the University of Hong Kong between April 2014 and January 2018.
“I feel there’s a big community and I think it’s a recognition of the standing of the university in society within the world and I’m very proud of the university, proud to be its principal,” he commented.
Others recognised include Professor David Crossman, former chief scientist (health) to the Scottish Government, who was made a CBE for services to public health in Scotland, while Stuart Liddell, pipe major of Inveraray and District Pipe Band, was made an MBE for services to piping and music education.
School crossing patrol attendant Joyce Murray, 79, from East Dunbartonshire, receives the British Empire Medal for service to the Boys’ Brigade and to the community in Glasgow.
Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “Those recognised in the New Year Honours list have made exceptional contributions to communities across Scotland and beyond.
“The service and dedication of our successes, from the arts, education and sport to business, charity, community cohesion and science, has helped to promote Scotland all over the world and benefited people throughout society.”
Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said this year’s New Year Honours list underlines the “outstanding contributions made by Scots to the life of the nation”.
Other prominent business leaders recognised include Ivan Menezes, made a knight for services to business and equality.
The Diageo chief executive also kicks off the new year with a more than £6m pay package.
He has been head of Diageo since 2013, having worked his way up the ranks at the drinks giant.
Menezes was the group’s chief operating officer before being promoted to the top job nearly a decade ago.
Before joining Diageo in 1997, he worked at Nestle, Booz Allen Hamilton and Whirlpool. He was born in India and is the brother of Victor Menezes, a former Citibank senior vice-chairman.
Alison Rose, the chief executive of NatWest Group, who joined the bank 30 years ago as a graduate and climbed the ranks to take on the top job in November 2019, has been given a damehood.
Recognised for services to financial services, she helped steer the bank through the pandemic, and has taken action on issues like gender inclusivity and climate change.
“It is a tremendous privilege to receive a damehood in His Majesty’s New Year Honours list and I am immensely proud to lead an organisation that plays such a positive role in the lives of people and families across the UK,“ she commented.
“This honour is a reflection of the fantastic work of all my colleagues at NatWest Group and the support we provide for the customers and communities we serve; promoting enterprise, building financial capability and channelling the power of finance to tackle climate change.”
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