Born: 28 November, 1922, in Dundee.
Died: 24 November, 2008, in Edinburgh, aged 85.
HE WAS one of Scotland's most distinguished post-war businessman who built his name first in the Dundee textile industry and then as a company doctor. Sir Lewis
Robertson, CBE, FRSE, turned around several ailing businesses, including the hotel group Reo Stakis in the 1990s, in a manner that won him much acclaim.
He was a believer in committed and efficient management and a pioneer of new technology. He was also a calm and uncompromising operator – he fired the founder's son at Reo Stakis – but everything Sir Lewis did was thought through to the last detail. When he took over a company he made clear who was in charge, once saying: "I must have absolute authority."
His meticulous mind and organisational abilities were legendary. Not for nothing was he once labelled "the most methodical man in Scotland". He listed as a recreation "list-making".
Sir Lewis is remembered for turning round the fortunes of several companies – the first was Grampian Holdings – but he also saved such established companies as F H Lloyd, Triplex and F J C Lilley while serving as a director of Scottish & Newcastle. He was the first chief executive of the Scottish Development Agency (now Scottish Enterprise), served on many public bodies throughout Scotland, notably the Scottish Arts Council, and was a trustee of the Scottish Cancer Foundation.
In 1991, Sir Lewis was a founder of the Postern Group, which advises companies in difficulties. Archie Coulson, who now runs the firm, said of Sir Lewis: "He had a sharp and agile brain which he applied with precision. He was quick, a good listener and debated all aspects of a situation. Lewis was always incisive and clear … though he could be incredibly tough."
Lewis Robertson was born into an old Dundee family. His father ran the family textile business of J F Robertson & Co, and after Ardvreck School in Crieff, Lewis attended Trinity College, Glenalmond. He remained a keen supporter of the school's affairs and was an active vice-president of an appeal for new science laboratories.
Sir Lewis then studied accountancy in Dundee and served with RAF Intelligence from 1942-46, part of the time at Bletchley Park.
He joined his father in 1946 to manage the jute business and, in 1954, became its managing director, introducing the shares to the stock exchange in 1958 under the name of Scott & Robertson after a merger.
He served as a director for two decades but such was his reputation, Sir Lewis was already being asked to serve on public bodies. In 1958, he joined the Eastern Regional Hospitals, the Scottish Post Office and the Monopolies Commission. In 1968 he was appointed chairman of Scott & Robertson but left two years later after a boardroom conflict.
He was immediately headhunted to save Grampian Holdings, a Glasgow industrial holding company that had over-diversified. Sir Lewis set about saving the firm and within five years Grampian was a profit-making company: indeed, under his stewardship the profits had trebled.
In 1976 he was appointed first chief executive of the Scottish Development Agency. It was a gruelling assignment – industry was in a parlous state and politicians often wanted to be involved. Indeed, such was their interference Sir Lewis decided after four years to return to the private sector.
His first challenge was the Midlands steel business F H Lloyd and there followed a remarkable list of companies that Sir Lewis returned to profitability, saving many jobs in the process. They included Triplex, Borthwicks plc, Lilley plc and Havelock Europa. His method was always the same – total control of the board and the workforce, followed by a two-pronged attack to restore internal confidence and pacify the bankers. Borrowings and costs were curtailed and brought under stringent scrutiny while efficient management systems were introduced. Often Sir Lewis appointed new financial and corporate advisers to completely reassess a company's viability.
In 1991 came his greatest corporate challenge. The previous year Stakis Group, the Glasgow-based hotel and casino company, had made profits of £30 million; within a year the share price had slumped and profits had halved. The group was caught in a savage property downturn and a collapse in trading.
Sir Lewis sold off various divisions to improve liquidity and took over the chair from Sir Reo. The head office staff was cut by a third and Andros Stakis (Sir Reo's son and then chief executive) was sacked. It was a battle against time and Sir Lewis had to keep the banks on his side. By 1993 he posted a profit of £10 million and said in the annual report: "I take great pleasure in presenting accounts which show a company well on its way into a period of sustained and stable growth – a company which is in every way under control."
His turnaround of Stakis was hailed as a major corporate achievement and although he remained chairman of Stakis until 1995 he had established himself as the leading company doctor in the UK. In 1991, he set up Postern Executive Group with, among others, the Edinburgh accountant Ken Scobie.
Mr Scobie said: "Lewis was a no-nonsense man. He could be abrasive but was always immensely likeable. He had a quick and analytical brain which cut through problems and got to the heart of the matter. He was a wonderful friend and colleague."
Sir Lewis had boundless energy and his wise council aided many academic, ecclesiastical and educational projects in Scotland. He was chairman of the Court of Dundee University, on the council of the Scottish Business Schools, director of the Friends of the Royal Scottish Academy and the Carnegie Trust and on the advisory board for publishing the Edinburgh edition of the Waverley novels. He was a keen musician and traveller and enjoyed good food and wine – especially a fine claret. Sir Lewis was chairman of the policy committee of the Scottish Episcopal Church and a regular at the 8am service at St Mary's Cathedral in Edinburgh.
Many of the Scottish universities gave him honorary degrees and he was knighted in 1991.
"When Lewis was chairman of our board," Mr Coulson said, "he scrutinised everything. His finger was in every pie we were reviewing. Twenty years ago he was computer-literate and way ahead of younger colleagues. Lewis was a worker. Once I sent him an e-mail on Christmas Day and got a reply by return. He was a man for whom I had enormous respect and affection."
Sir Lewis married Elspeth Badenoch in 1950. She predeceased him and he is survived by two of their sons, another having predeceased him.
ALASDAIR STEVEN