Scotland’s top directors were celebrated last night at the IoD Scotland Director of the Year Awards, held at the Hilton DoubleTree in Glasgow.
20 outstanding leaders collected awards in a ceremony that acknowledged the best in business across 11 key director categories and seven regional categories, including new categories for innovation and inclusivity.
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Robin Watson, Chief Executive of Wood receiving the IoD Scotland Director of the Year Award for Large Business.
The winners of the 11 national Director of the Year categories will progress to the prestigious UK Director of the Year Awards, which take place in London in October.
| Award Category | Winner | Region |
| IoD Scotland Director of the Year – International | Brendon O’Reilly – Fashion House Group Highly Commended: Craig Chambers – TBR Global Chauffeuring | Glasgow & West |
| Turcan Connell Director of the Year – Family Business | Iain Anderson – GAP Group Ltd | Glasgow & West |
| SCVO Director of the Year –Third Sector | Roslyn Neely – Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity | Edinburgh |
| mclcreate Director of the Year – Public Sector | Pauline Howie OBE – Scottish Ambulance Service | Edinburgh |
| IoD Scotland Director of the Year – Young | Michael Golding – Inverness Kart Raceway Highly Commended: Rebecca Speirs – Spectrum Service Solutions Ltd | Highlands & Islands Glasgow & West |
| BT Director of the Year – Inclusivity | Lynne Connolly – Standard Life Aberdeen PLC | Edinburgh |
| Scottish Government Director of the Year – Innovation | Nathan Pyne-Carter – Ace Aquatec Ltd | Tayside |
| IoD Scotland Director of the Year – Start-Up | Daniel Winterstein – Good-Loop Highly Commended: Julie Grieve – Criton | Edinburgh Edinburgh |
| IoD Scotland Director of the Year – Non-Executive | Hugh Little | Aberdeen & Grampian |
| IoD Scotland Director of the Year – Small-Medium Business | Jamie McGowan – Essence of Harris | Highlands & Islands |
| IoD Scotland Director of the Year – Large Business | Robin Watson – Wood | Aberdeen and Grampian |
The Awards highlight the diversity of the business landscape in Scotland, with categories for SMEs to large businesses; charities to the public sector. They also honour those individuals whose creativity, leadership or innovative business practices have led to success for their organisation and the communities they serve.
As well as the main categories, three discretionary awards were made:
| IoD Scotland Chair’s Award | Lord Haughey Kt. OBE – City Facilities Management Holdings Ltd |
| IoD Scotland Young Enterprise Scotland Award | Rhianna Harrison – Negotium, Boroughmuir High School |
| IoD Scotland Award forTransforming Scotland | Philip Long – V&A Dundee |
In addition, individual awards were made across the seven regions:
Regional Directors of the Year Winners
| Edinburgh & Lothians | Pauline Howie OBE – Scottish Ambulance Service |
| Central Scotland & Fife | Dale McQueen – Trossachs Distillery Limited t/a McQueen Gin |
| Glasgow & West of Scotland | Iain Anderson – GAP Group Ltd |
| Highlands and Islands Enterprise Regional Director | Bob Buskie – Port of Cromarty Firth |
| Tayside | Ian Collins – Non-Executive Director |
| South of Scotland | Ryan Brown – Robinsons Scotland |
| Aberdeen & Grampian | Graham McWilliam – Glencraft (Aberdeen) Ltd – Glencraft LuxuryHighly commended: Hugh Little – CLAN Cancer Support |
Of Large Business Director of the Year, Robin Watson, Chief Executive of Wood, the judges commented: “Robin Watson’s entry was exceptional, showing leadership in circumstances which required bold and decisive action yet maintained corporate strength and robustness and integrity. Robin has a very personal yet professional approach and honest self-appraisal and respect for others. First class.”
David Watt, Executive Director of the Institute of Directors in Scotland, commented: “In what has been one of the most challenging and unpredictable political and business environments of modern times, business leaders have been truly tried and tested. Tonight’s winners are testament to the tenacity and commitment not only to their organisations, but also their employees, stakeholders and customers.
“It is clear that excellence in leadership is spread across all sectors and the length and breadth of Scotland. The Director of the Year awards provide a chance to recognise and celebrate these fantastic examples of the dynamic thinking and strategic planning which will benefit the companies and the country long into the future, as well as cementing Scotland’s place on a global stage.
“Key traits that emerged throughout the judging process centered on a fearlessness to innovate; collaboration with partners; and a commitment to ongoing investment in their employees to ensure their businesses grow further. These are crucial values which will engage and inspire the next generation of business leaders. Congratulations to all of tonight’s finalists and winners.”
