Iain Tennant

Sir Iain Mark Tennant, KT FRSA (11 March 1919–25 September 2006) was a Scottish businessman.

Life and career

Born in North Berwick, the only son of John Edward Tennant and Georgina Helen Kirkpatrick, he was educated at Eton College and Magdalene College, Cambridge. He served in Egypt with the 2nd Battalion, Scots Guards from 1940 to 1942, and was an intelligence officer with 201 Guards' Brigade. He was captured at the surrender of Tobruk and was a prisoner of war in Italy and Germany until 1945. In 1946 he married Lady Margaret Helen Isla Marion Ogilvy (1920-2014), daughter of Colonel David Ogilvy, 12th Earl of Airlie in Westminster.^[1] and had a two sons and a daughter; unfortunately one son died before his death in 2006.^[2] One of his daughters, Emma, married Sir Jocelyn Stevens.^[3]

Tennant's business appointments include Chairman of Grampian Television from 1968 to 1989 (he was Vice-Chairman from 1960 to 1968), Director of Caledonian Associated Cinemas from 1950 to 1990; Director of Clydesdale Bank from 1969 to 1989; Director of Abbey National Building Society; and Honorary Director with Seagram Co Ltd; Chairman of Glenlivet and Glen Grant Distilleries Ltd; and was Chairman of the Board of Gordonstoun School from 1957 to 1972.

Tennant was a Member of the Royal Company of Archers since 1950. He was Lord Lieutenant of Moray from 1963 to 1994, Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1988 and 1989, and Crown Estate Commissioner for Scotland from 1970 to 1990. He was appointed a Knight of the Thistle in 1986.^[4] He also served on Moray and Nairn County Council from 1956 to 1964. He was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

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