Alasdair Houston MBE
Alasdair Houston is a well-known pedigree cattle breeder, farmer and businessman from Gretna Green.
Born in Dumfries, schooled in Perthshire, with MA(Hons) from the University of Cambridge, he then spent a year in Edinburgh at the School of Agriculture before returning home to commit to life in South Scotland and take over the family business Gretna Green Ltd, active in tourism, hospitality and agriculture.
Passionate about the role of family business to provide opportunity in fragile rural communities, under his leadership the company has grown successfully and achieved national and international recognition whilst creating around 250 jobs for the local community. He was awarded an MBE for Services to Tourism in Dumfriesshire in 2011 which he dedicated to his family and the community where he lives and works.
Outside his own business, Alasdair has held multiple advisory roles in the tourism and enterprise network, as well as Non-Executive Director, Chairman and Trustee roles for a number of commercial and charitable organisations. He is a Fellow of the Royal Agricultural Society Scotland and a Deputy Lieutenant for Dumfries.
Alasdair is a family man, married with two children: a proud Scot, keen sportsman and countryman.