Sir Ian Good (September 25, 1943 – October 29, 2023) was a Scottish businessman.[1][2]

Biography

edit

Ian Good was born on September 25, 1943, in Bishopton, Renfrewshire.[3] His father was an industrial chemist.[4] He was educated at the John Neilson Institution in Paisley and qualified as a chartered accountant with Smith & Williamson in Glasgow.[3] Later, he worked for Price Waterhouse in London and Glasgow.[3]

In 1969, Good joined Robertson & Baxter (R&B) as an executive assistant to managing director John Macphail.[3][5] Good quickly advanced within the company, earning the trust of Miss Babs, and was appointed to the boards of Lang Brothers and Hepburn & Ross, companies acquired by R&B in the 1960s.[3] He joined the R&B board in 1974 and became influential in shaping the management and direction of Edrington.[3] In 1979, he appeared before competition authorities to oppose a takeover bid by the U.S. spirits company Hiram Walker for Highland Distillers, which co-produced The Famous Grouse whisky with R&B.[3]

Good became chief executive in 1989 and chairman in 1994, retiring in 2013.[3][6] From 2000 to 2005, he served as chair of the Scotch Whisky Association.[3] He also served as the chairman of The Robertson Trust from 2000 to 2012.[5]

Good co-owned racehorses and was chairman of Hamilton Park Racecourse from 1999.[3][7] In 2000, he became the founding chairman of Scottish Racing and was elected to the Jockey Club in 2005.[3] His horse, Penny a Day, won the 1995 Zetland Gold Cup at Redcar.[3]

He was also a golfer at Erskine Golf Club.[3]

Personal life

edit

In 1969, Good married Irene Mitchell; they had two daughters, Fiona and Catriona.[3]

References

edit
  1. ^ "Accountant who played major role in building global Scotch whisky group dies aged 80". The Herald. November 2, 2023.
  2. ^ "An independent spirit IAN GOOD: Edrington chairman and chief executive upholds the virtues of a Scottish quality product, finds Ron Clark". The Herald. 2004-03-27. Retrieved 2024-10-29.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Sir Ian Good obituary". The Times. November 6, 2023.
  4. ^ "Ian Good helps Langs stay at the quality end of market". The Herald. 1989-06-27. Retrieved 2024-10-29.
  5. ^ a b "Former Edrington chairman has had a Good run at the top". The Herald. August 24, 2013.
  6. ^ Kiely, Melita (November 3, 2023). "Former Edrington chairman Sir Ian Good CBE dies". The Spirits Business.
  7. ^ "Scottish racecourse chairman hails 'tremendous contribution' of chief executive bound for Ascot". The Herald. December 21, 2021.