
Drinks giant acquires stake in former football star's firm
Read Scott Wright's story here
Allan Dowie, left, and Benny Higgins. (Image: Wbg) A former bank chief and adviser to a First Minister has been appointed as chairman of a Scottish accountancy firm.
Wbg has appointed Benny Higgins, the former Tesco Bank chief executive who advised Nicola Sturgeon on the new national investment bank, to the role.
Currently chairman of Glasgow-based investment firm N4 Partners, whose seven-figure investment last year made it the majority shareholder of Wbg, Mr Higgins succeeds Lorna Jack as chairman of the accountancy firm.
Having overseen a series of acquisitions, the opening of a new office network and the rebranding of the companies within the group structure to Wbg, Ms Jack, former chief executive at The Law Society for Scotland, current chairman of Highlands and Islands Airports, vice chair of Scottish Funding Council and honorary consul for the Netherlands in Scotland, steps back from her role as Wbg chair to become a member of N4's advisory board.
Read Brian Donnelly's article here
Ross County chairman sells three firms to Mitsui of Japan
GEG and Ross County chairman Roy MacGregor, left, during a Scottish Cup fourth round match away to Hamilton Academical in January 2023, in Hamilton. (Image: Roddy Scott - SNS Group) The chairman of Ross County Football Club has sold off a significant chunk of his Highland business empire.
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The Independent
4 hours ago
- The Independent
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The Independent
4 hours ago
- The Independent
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Scottish Sun
7 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
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