Published: Thursday, 31st July, 2008 08:15
The Best of both worlds for Stuart
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SELF-MADE millionaire and Belhaven Brewery boss, Stuart Ross, has declared “all the Best” to staff and colleagues – as he prepares to step down after nearly 20 years in the top job.
Since joining the brewery – home of the world famous Belhaven Best ale – in 1973, Stuart, aged 60, has seen it grow from a small family business with seven local pubs and a staff of 30 people, to an estate of 315 pubs and 1,700 employees.
Said Glasgow-born Stuart: “I fell in love with Belhaven Brewery when I first saw it in 1973 and I’ve always really appreciated the culture of it, which I think has stayed the same even as Belhaven has grown over the years.
“I always wanted to go into a business that had a close-knit family culture within it.”
After leaving the company in 1987 and working on a self-employed basis for the next two years, Stuart rejoined the brewery as managing director.
Four years later he would cement his success with the company by engineering a £23.5 management buyout with three colleagues in 1993.
In 1996, he oversaw the flotation of the business, then worth around £35 million, on the London Stock Exchange and remained in the top job when pub retailer and brewery Greene King acquired the brewery for £187 million in 2005.
In recent years, Stuart has successfully steered the company through the aftermath of the smoking ban and been presented with various accolades, including the Scottish Corporate Entrepreneur of the Year Award and the Scottish Licensed Trade News Lifetime Achievement Award, both given to him in 2002.
The announcement of his retirement from the company came on July 4, as Greene King celebrated an 18 per cent rise in operating profits, to a whopping £27.5 million, at the county brewery.
“I have been extremely lucky in being exposed to so many people with great talent, both as my bosses and my subordinates,” said father-of-three Stuart, who was educated at Jordanhill College School before earning a law degree from Glasgow University and joining the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland in 1972.
“It has been a real privilege to be at the helm of such a vibrant and dynamic team of people, for so many years,” he added.
Stuart, who also lived in Dunbar between 1974 and 2000, now plans to buy a holiday home in Portugal for himself and his partner Dorothy and spend “quality time” with his three children, Sarah, David and Liam after leaving the top job later this year.
He also plans to continue part-time with Belhaven Brewery, Montpeliers (Edinburgh) Ltd and Dunfermline Building Society – where he holds non-executive positions – in an advisory capacity.
“Basically, I’m planning to have two weeks a month when I’m working and two weeks when I’m having some fun!” he said.
Greene King chief executive Rooney Anand has heaped praise on Stuart, saying: “Since he joined the Greene King top team at the time of the acquisition, the whole business has benefited extensively from his experience and exceptional talent.
“The results (for the company) in Scotland make a fitting valediction.”
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Honoured by Her Majesty