Honour for IoD Chair Patrick Macdonald as Royal Society of Edinburgh Fellowships announced
Patrick Macdonald awarded one of 57 Fellowships for industry leaders nationwide
The Institute of Directors (IoD) Chair Patrick Macdonald will be awarded a Fellowship by the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE), Scotland’s National Academy, on Tuesday 16 April.
Macdonald is one of 57 new Fellows, comprised of leading experts in business, the sciences, arts, academia, and third and public sectors, who work to tackle the most pressing challenges facing Scotland and the UK.
A member of IoD since 2001, Macdonald stepped into the role of Chair in March 2021, bringing a wealth of experience and expertise to the organisation.
Macdonald has held both executive and non-executive roles across a wide range of international businesses from startups to large enterprises in both public and private sectors over the last four decades.
He holds a first class Honours degree in Engineering Science from Oxford University and an MBA from Institut Européen d’Administration des Affaires (INSEAD) in France. He started his professional career as an engineer at the Ministry of Defence before joining Unilever and going on to work for Boston Consulting Group (BCG) in Germany and the UK, before joining General Electric (GE) in the USA. Macdonald then became CEO of John Menzies plc, based in Scotland, and has experience working in private equity-backed businesses including Reconomy, the waste management company.
Following the RSE Fellowship announcement, Patrick Macdonald said: “It is an honour to be receiving this Fellowship from the RSE. I look forward to actively contributing to the RSE’s important and influential work across Scotland and the UK.
“I’m in great company, and I’d like to pass on my congratulations to the 56 other new Fellows given this excellent news today. There will be many opportunities to collaborate with the rest of the Fellowship in making a positive impact to business, the economy and society.”
Catherine McWilliam, Nation Director at IoD Scotland, said: “This is wonderful news, and we would like to extend our congratulations to Patrick from the IoD Scotland team. His extensive industry knowledge and leadership skills have been an integral part of IoD’s continuous growth and success in Scotland during his three years as Chair and many years before that as a member.
“Patrick’s hard work and passion for the world of business is reflected in his longstanding commitments to his roles as Chair and as an IoD Scotland member. We look forward to seeing the positive effect Patrick and the rest of the new Fellows will have on society in Scotland and nationwide.”
Jonathan Geldart, Director General at IoD, said: “This a great honour for Patrick and the IoD which recognises his expertise and leadership qualities. The RSE is a hugely admired institution and I’m certain he’ll add great value through his engagement.”
Other RSE Fellows announced today include BAFTA and Emmy-winning satirist Armando Iannucci and award-winning journalist and charity founder Sally Magnusson.
