Iain MacRitchie, chairman and CEO of MCR Holdings, gave an interesting and well-received talk on business success based on his own experience on May 6 at Strathclyde Business School. A Strathclyde graduate, Iain drew on his vast experience of developing and growing the potential of a diverse range of businesses for his talk, "Business success: a view from experience". His early career was in marketing and general management in a fast growing business-to-business brand. Becoming MD, he led the company through rapid expansion for 5 years to become a recognised worldwide leader in specialist films for the electronics industry through start-ups in the USA and Far East.
In 1998 he set up MCR Holdings to take on the challenge of implementing rapid growth strategies to help realise the full potential of private equity backed businesses. In this role he has held positions as CEO or Chairman in a diverse portfolio of businesses with combined sales of up to £1bn in retail, consumer, business services, technology, healthcare and manufacturing. Iain has completed 12 major engagements in the last 8 years, returning just under £500m with an average 6-fold increase in company profits and in the process helping add value to over 7,500 jobs.
Iain has also founded and led the start-up of diverse businesses in chemical coatings to software development and maintained a keen interest in consumer brands. He is passionate about sport and the lifestyle benefits of exercise. His appointment as Chairman of Maxinutrition in 2007 plays to his strengths and experience in marketing, brand development and helping establish long-term fast growth plans on an international basis. He has also just taken up Chairmanship of a retail women's fashion brand and works as an adviser to a number of investors and financial institutions.
In 2008 he launched the MCR Holdings Charitable Foundation with a start-up funding and a perpetual 10% of MCR Holding's profits. The Foundation is focused on providing advice, support and capital for education, sports and welfare initiatives in deprived inner city areas. It is particularly targeted at creating opportunities for children in care or those previously under social work supervision. The talk was followed by a question and answer session and informal discussion at a reception hosted by the Dean of Strathclyde Business School, Professor Susan Hart.