People: Lederer flies flag for foundation

Published on Friday 28 August 2009 22:15

ONE of Scotland's most experienced hospitality and tourism executives has been appointed chairman of the Saltire Foundation, the entrepreneurial education programme created to "enhance Scotland's commercial performance".

Peter Lederer, who is also chairman of VisitScotland, has had a career spanning more than 30 years but is perhaps best known for his time as managing director of luxury hotel resort Gleneagles. He replaces Crawford Gillies, who is now chairman at Scottish Enterprise.

Will we see entrepreneurs' softer side as reality bites in recession?

ENTREPRENEURSHIP, it would appear, is everywhere these days. Thank Dragon's Den and The Apprentice for catchphrases such as "I'm out!" and "You're fired".

Not that all self-made business types are hard-nosed mavericks like Duncan Bannatyne, right, and Sir Alan Sugar – a point that academics are hoping to highlight as they embark on new research.

Dr Rob Smith, a lecturer at Aberdeen's Robert Gordon University, is looking to change the way we think about entrepreneurs, in light of the current economic crisis.

Smith, who is co-editing a special edition of a prestigious international journal, is inviting contributions that consider how alternative accounts of entrepreneurship "may shape or be shaped by a changing economic order".

Contribution topics are likely to include globalisation, technological change, "expressions of humour" and "cultural movements".

We hope to keep you abreast of the findings.

Tintin boosts arts business's revenue

THE week has ended on a bright note for Luke Heron, the brains behind Edinburgh-based arts business Storyboard Assets.

The company, which owns and exhibits a range of original artwork depicting children's characters, has netted more than 8,000 from the sale of one of its works – Tintin et Milou.

Meanwhile, Heron is "cautiously optimistic" that Storyboard will operate on a "break-even or better" basis in the coming financial year.

Those keen on viewing the firm's current collection should try to make the trip to the Haven Gallery in Boston, Lincolnshire.

Oiling the wheels of industry

CHARLES Brunton has a smile on his face this weekend after his Livingston-based Specialist Lubricants (SL) business tied up a global supply deal with packaging giant Tetra Pak.

SL's dry lubrication product for the food and drink packaging industry is said to provide an "environmentally friendly solution" to the water-based systems currently used.

A beaming Brunton tells us: "This is terrific news. We are a homegrown Scottish firm punching above our weight against tough international competition. We have shown how Scottish SMEs can succeed through exploiting a flair for innovation and customer-focused delivery."

GOOD DAY

Mark Escolme

FINDUS has appointed Escolme as group managing director for its UK frozen food businesses – Young's Seafood and Findus UK. The group describes him as a "senior international industry manager with 20 years' experience". Prior to joining Findus, Escolme worked for SC Johnson.

BAD DAY

Ben Bernanke

NOBODY is safe from identity theft, not even the chairman of the United States Federal Reserve. Bernanke's personal bank account has became entangled in an elaborate identity-theft scheme, after his wife Anna's purse was stolen last year. It helped fuel an ongoing probe into a sophisticated ring.