Galleries chairman receives knighthood

Published on Saturday 17 June 2006 01:39

BRIAN Ivory, chairman of the board of the National Galleries of Scotland, has received a knighthood in the Queen's Birthday Honours List.

Sir Brian, 57, said he would celebrate his knighthood with a "wee dram".

He is one of Scotland's leading corporate executives and has used his expertise to further a host of cultural facilities across the country.

Sir Brian was the chief executive and chairman of Highland Distillers, the distiller of labels such as The Famous Grouse, The Macallan and Highland Park, before the company was taken over in 1999.

For the past six years he has been chairman of the board of trustees of the world-renowned National Galleries of Scotland, as well as chairman of the National Piping Centre in Glasgow.

Of his knighthood, he said: "It's wonderful news, and I am delighted and highly honoured to be recognised in this way.

"I believe passionately in the importance of a thriving artistic and cultural scene in Scotland.

"It is enormous fun to be involved with the National Galleries and I get great satisfaction from the position."

Sir Brian has presided over the building of a 30 million underground link between the National Gallery and the Royal Scottish Academy and also authorised the 7.6 million purchase of a renaissance masterpiece by his favourite artist, Titian, in 2003.

Tim Bowdler, the chief executive of Johnston Press - the owner of The Scotsman - has been made a CBE for services to the newspaper industry.

He said: "I am extremely honoured to have received the award, but it reflects on much more than just personal achievement. It reflects on the hard work and commitment of a great number of people within Johnston Press and it makes me particularly pleased that their effort is being recognised in this way."

Other recipients of honours among the business community included James Crosby, the chief executive of HBOS, who receives a knighthood for services to the finance industry. George Mitchell, the former chief executive of Corporate Banking at HBOS and Governor of the Bank of Scotland, has been made a CBE.