Chairman of Lothian Broadband, providing broadband infrastructure to rural communities and small towns across Scotland. Backed by the Scottish National Investment Bank.Chairman of M8 Group, an online retail group including petplanet.co.uk and greenfingers.com.Chairman of These Islands, a think tank seeking to inform and facilitate constructive debate about the future of the United Kingdom.Investor and former commmercial director / non-exec director of Endura Ltd, a leading international cycle clothing brand and winner of the 2013/14 HSBC Global Connections award for small and medium-sized businesses.Both M8 Group and Endura Ltd are Scottish businesses that appeared in the 2010 Sunday Times Fast Track 100 as two of the fastest growing profitable private companies in the UK. Endura was sold to Pentland Group in 2018, M8 Group via an MBO in 2020 (I returned as Non Executive Chairman of M8 Group in 2023).Former non-exec director representing the lead investor in Ixaris Group, a fintech business specialising in commercial payment solutions.Former Trustee and Finance Director of Gifford Community Land Company, a charity which has purchased 55 acres of native woodland to preserve and maintain for the benefit of the local community. Blogger and commentator on Scottish politics and economic matters. Former columnist for the Daily Record and the Herald.Previously partner and finance director at OC&C Strategy consultants, leading a wide variety of strategy consulting assignments with a particular focus on consumer industries, retail, new media and m&a.Founder of bettercaring, a leading online care home directory business created in 2000 in partnership with The Stationery Office; sold to OLM Systems in 2002Specialties: Traditional Retail, Ecommerce and Internet Retail, New Media, M&A, Strategy, Entrepreneurship, Economics, Scottish Politics
Listed skills include E Commerce, Strategy, Business Strategy, Retail, and 15 others.
