Hector Laing, Baron Laing of Dunphail

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Hector Laing, Baron Laing of Dunphail , FRSA (born May 12, 1923 in Edinburgh , † June 21, 2010 in Buckinghamshire ) was a British economic manager , businessman , politician and life peer .

Life

Laing, son of Hector Laing and Margaret Norris Grant, attended the Loretto School in Musselburgh and the Jesus College at Cambridge University . From 1942 to 1947 served Laing at the 3rd Tank Battalion of the Scots Guards (Armored 3rd Battalion Scots Guards) and was in the rank of captain discharged from the army. In 1944 he was mentioned in Despatches for his military services . He also received the Bronze Star .

In 1947 he joined the British biscuit manufacturers McVitie & Price Ltd. one as director, in 1963 he became CEO ( Chairman ). McVitie & Price merged with the Scottish family bakery Macfarlane, Lang & Co. Ltd in 1948 and became part of the United Biscuits Group. 1953 Laing Director ( Director ) of United Biscuits. His entrepreneurial skills lay in the production of baked goods , particularly in the introduction of automated processes for the production of the baked goods. In 1964 he became director general ( managing director ). From 1972 to 1990 he was Chairman of the Board of Directors of United Biscuits plc Holding . Under Laing's leadership, United Biscuits added numerous other food companies: William Crawford & Son, DS Crawford, Macdonalds, Meredith & Drew, Kenyon Sons & Craven and Keebler Co., the second largest manufacturer of biscuits and cookies in the United States . Through these acquisitions and the company's international growth, United Biscuits became one of the largest manufacturers of biscuits and snack foods. Laing was regarded as a visionary businessman who invited company employees, as representatives of the workforce , to the annual general meetings as well as the shareholders . From 1977 to 1979 he was simultaneously chairman ( chairman ) of the Food and Drink Industries Council.

Laing's entrepreneurial spirit caught the attention of later British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher . A political and private friendship developed between Laing and Thatcher. Laing later served as Treasurer of the Conservative Party from 1988 to 1993 .

From 1973 to 1991 Laing was a director of the Bank of England . From 1984 to 1994 he was a director of Exxon Corporation. From 1982 to 1990 he was Chairman ( Chairman ) of the non-profit organization Scottish Business in the Community, from 1987 to 1992 then from Business in the Community. From 1985 to 1990 he was also chairman of the City and Industrial Liaison Council.

In 1950 he married Marian Clare, the daughter of Major General Sir John Emilius Laurie. With her he had three sons. His hobbies included walking and gardening on his estate in the village of Gerard's Cross in Buckinghamshire and Dunphail . Laing died after a short illness.

Membership in the House of Lords

On February 8, 1991, Laing was promoted to life peer . He was named Baron Laing of Dunphail, of Dunphail in the County of Moray. In the House of Lords he sat for the Conservative Party .

Further offices and honors

1978 Laing was raised to the Knight Bachelor . He was joint chairman of the Per Cent Club, which he co-founded, trustee and chairman of the board of trustees of the Lambeth Fund (1983-1997), director ( governor ) of Wycombe Abbey School (1981-1994) and president of the Trident Trust (1992-1994).

In 1985 he was awarded an honorary doctorate ( DUniv ) from the University of Stirling . In 1986 he received a Doctor of Letters ( Hon DLitt ) from Heriot-Watt University . In 1988 he became an Honorary Fellow of Jesus College, Cambridge University and in 1989 a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh .

In 1979 he received the “Businessman of the Year” award, and in 1980 the British “Free Enterprise” award.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ The Lord Laing of Dunphail, FRSE  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Vita at Debretts (excerpts available online)@1@ 2Template: Dead Link / www.debretts.com  
  2. ^ Hector Laing, Baron Laing of Dunphail on thepeerage.com , accessed September 12, 2016.
  3. ↑ LAING OF DUNPHAIL, Baron in: The International Who's Who 2004 , Europa Publications, p. 948
  4. ↑ LAING, Sir Hector, THE BARON LAING OF DUNPHAIL in: Peter Beauclerk Dewar: Burke's landed gentry of Great Britain , 2001, p. 1419
personal data
SURNAME Laing, Hector, Baron Laing of Dunphail
BRIEF DESCRIPTION British politician and life peer
DATE OF BIRTH May 12, 1923
PLACE OF BIRTH Edinburgh
DATE OF DEATH June 21, 2010
Place of death Buckinghamshire