Accolade for Ian Beattie from Glasgow Caledonian University recognises his achievements in athletics
A Renfrewshire-raised business executive has received an honorary doctorate celebrating his achievements in athletics.
St Mirren director Ian Beattie MBE was presented with the accolade by Glasgow Caledonian University during a ceremony at the city’s Royal Concert Hall yesterday (Wednesday).
It honoured his contribution to athletics and his impact as a passionate advocate for the positive part that sport can play in improving peoples’ health and wellbeing.
Ian, who grew up in Kilbarchan and attended high school in Paisley, said: “To be able to contribute to a sport that I love is an honour and it’s lovely to be recognised in this way.”
As well as being Chief Operating Officer of Lindsays, one of Scotland’s leading independent legal firms, he is the chair of UK Athletics, the sport’s governing body in Great Britain and Northern Ireland and has been a volunteer director of St Mirren Football Club since 2025.
He is well-known as a former long-serving chair of scottishathletics and vice-chair of both sportscotland and SAMH, on top of being the former race director of the West Highland Way Race, an accomplished endurance runner and athletics coach.
Speaking after the presentation, Ian added: “These sorts of things come out of the blue and are just a nice surprise. I am really grateful to Glasgow Caledonian University for this.
“What’s really nice about this is that it’s not just about the higher profile roles I have had, but my involvement in the grassroots side, including coaching endurance groups and being involved in a number of clubs and committees. To have someone recognise the range of that means a lot.”
Ian’s services to athletics were previously recognised when he was awarded an MBE in 2020.
In his role as Chief Operating Officer at Lindsays, Ian - a chartered accountant and member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS) - is responsible for the firm’s financial and operational performance.
Lindsays last week announced a significant expansion of its presence in Glasgow through a merger with Dallas McMillan, which has a strong client base across Renfrewshire.
That deal, which takes effect from September 1, will increase the size of Lindsays’ Glasgow-based team from 80 to 123, with its total headcount - including its other offices in Edinburgh, Dundee, Perth and Crieff - rising to 417.
Ian uses the experience of his business career in his sporting roles.
He said: “So much is about strong relationships. I’ve always been a big believer in that.
“At Lindsays we have strong teams who work together. I encourage that in sport too. It’s about getting really good people and giving them an environment where they can flourish, enjoy work, do their best and give them the chance to develop.”
Lindsays itself is a significant supporter of grassroots sport in Scotland.
The firm this year extended its sponsorship of scottishathletics’ cross country season to its recently-concluded road race series, which included a record 1,450 combined field competing in the 5k and 10k events in Edinburgh and Glasgow. The dual sponsorship deal will continue until 2029.
Colleagues have congratulated Ian on his presentation.
Nina Taylor, the Chair of Lindsays, said: “Everyone at the firm is delighted for Ian and this well-deserved recognition. As a business, we encourage our team to support their communities and causes close to their hearts. Ian really leads by example on that.”
Lindsays last month (June) marked the countdown to the return of the Commonwealth Games to Glasgow by hosting the Lindsays Sports Forum - Celebrating a Summer of Athletics.
It saw Ian lead a panel discussion with Denise Lewis and Eilidh Doyle, alongside UK Athletics Chief Executive Jack Buckner, also a former Olympian.