One of the UK’s most prominent and successful businessmen has been appointed to serve on the Court of the University of Aberdeen.
Aberdeen graduate Don Cruickshank joins fellow businessman Michael Moir, who is also an Aberdeen graduate, as a Co-opted Member on the University Court. They will both serve a period of three years.
Co-opted members are appointed by the Court and provide strategic guidance to the University’s governing body.
Principal of the University of Aberdeen, Professor C Duncan Rice, said: “The appointment of two of the UK’s most influential businessmen will significantly strengthen the University’s governing body given the weight of these two highly respected and successful figures in the international business arena.”
Don Cruickshank, (MA 1963 LLD 2000), is a director of Qualcomm Inc, and Chairman of Clinovia Group Ltd and Formscape Group Ltd. He was Chairman of the London Stock Exchange, SMS Plc, and Taylor and Francis Plc.
Dr Cruickshank serves on the Scottish Enterprise International Advisory Board, which advises on and supports the Scottish Enterprise's economic development efforts and is a member of the Financial Reporting Council, responsible for oversight of the accounting and actuarial professions in the UK, and for control of corporate governance.
He has been Commercial Director of Times Newspapers and General Manager of the Sunday Times. He subsequently became Managing Director of the Information & Entertainment division of Pearson plc, and Managing Director of the Virgin Group. He was also Chief Executive of the NHS in Scotland (1989 to 1993) and Director General of Telecommunications (1993 to 1998).
He is a member of the University of Aberdeen’s Development Trust Campaign Board and has provided support and advice to the University’s Development Trust during the first phase of the Sixth Century Campaign.
In 2003, after a career of over 30 years in various sectors of the property industry in UK and Hong Kong, Michael J Moir formed Inverleith Property Services to provide development consultancy and other property related services to property investment and development companies.
His clients include the Hong Kong Housing Authority, the Hong Kong Urban Renewal Authority, Hysan Development Company, Elphinstone Group and Winsor Properties.
He holds non-executive directorships of several private equity property funds and companies.
Mr Moir received his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Aberdeen in 1972 and his Master of Engineering was awarded by the University of Glasgow in 1977. He became a Chartered Engineer in 1977 and a Chartered Surveyor in 1989.
Before setting up Inverleith Property Services, Mr Moir was Managing Director of PCCW Infrastructure, the property arm of the Pacific Century Group, which includes Hong Kong’s largest telecommunications company.
Dr Alistair Mair, Senior Lay Member of the University Court, said: “The University of Aberdeen is competing on an international stage and the experience of these two well-respected figures will help develop and guide the University’s strategic development.”
Further information on the University Court is available by visiting: http://www.abdn.ac.uk/admin/courtctt.shtml