Ian Bankier

Career

Bankier was educated at St Aloysius primary school in Glasgow where Bankier said that in primary six his teacher would give them double the homework if Celtic lost and none if they won. Bankier then studied law at the University of Edinburgh before becoming a partner in the Glasgow law firm McGrigor Donald.

Bankier later became managing director of Burn Stewart Whisky Distillers in 1995 and oversaw the takeover of CL Financial.

Bankier is currently executive chairman and part owner of Glenkeir Whiskies which operates the Whisky Shop chain, the UK's largest specialist retailer of whiskies. Bankier bought the business in 2004 with £1.5 million of his own money and in 2010 the business had 15 stores across the UK and an annual revenue of £6 million a year. In 2012 the company had expanded to include 19 stores in the UK.

Football

Bankier initially joined Celtic as a non-executive director in June 2011 before becoming Celtic's 15th chairman in the club's history when he replaced John Reid in October 2011. After joining the board of directors Bankier stated "As a long-standing supporter of the club, I feel very privileged to be invited not only to join the board of Celtic, but later to become its chairman. I am looking forward to it tremendously and hope that my own contributions to the future success and well-being of this club will be as positive as those of my predecessors." In an outgoing statement John Reid stated that "Chairman of Celtic is a demanding role but Ian is someone of considerable experience and achievement."

Personal life

Bankier's daughter is Scottish badminton player Imogen Bankier.

References

References

1. [http://www.celticfc.net/corporate_boardofdirectors Presentation on official Celtic web page] {{webarchive. link. (9 November 2013 as of 30 June 2013)
2. (3 June 2011). "Ian Bankier to be new Celtic chairman when combative John Reid stands down later this year". The Telegraph.
3. Strydom, Martin. (27 August 2014). "Scottish business leaders say 'case for independence has not been made'". The Daily Telegraph.
4. "CELTIC CONFIRM NEW CHAIRMAN". Sporting Life.
5. (3 June 2011). "John Reid bows out as whisky magnate Ian Bankier is the new toast of Celtic". The Scotsman.
6. (25 January 2004). "Bankier planning chain of whisky shops". The Scotsman.
7. (6 June 2007). "STRATEGY AND FUNDING MAKE FOR A FINE BLEND". The Express.
8. (9 January 2010). "Whisky Shop seeks to branch out in England". The Scotsman.
9. "Store Locations". Whisky Shop Website.
10. (14 October 2011). "Celtic chief warns of 'extinction' for Scottish football". BBC Sport.
11. (2011-06-03). "Lord Reid to stand down as Celtic chairman". [[BBC Sport]].
12. (4 June 2011). "Ian Bankier replaces John Reid at Celtic Park". STV Sport.