Senior figure at Aberdeen Asset Management
Born: January 6, 1947;
Died: July 11, 2017
BRIAN Ross, who has died aged 70, was a successful banker and for many years a senior figure in the fund group Aberdeen Asset Management. One of the first ten employees at the firm, he joined in March 1987 when the company was less than four years old.
Fellow employees at that time included Martin Gilbert, chief executive of Aberdeen Asset Management, as well as co-founders Ronnie Scott Brown and George Robb. Mr Ross remained at Aberdeen Asset Management for more than 15 years and held the position of company secretary prior to his retirement in 2002. His previous roles had included head of compliance.
In the mid-1960s he joined Bank of Scotland first at the St John Street Branch, Perth, as a clerk. While working at the Bank at the Dunkeld branch, he revealed his ambitions rather exceeded the role he was asked to do. Over one Christmas, he was asked to count all the pen nibs in the stockroom. His indignation bordered on outrage.
Following the Bank of Scotland merger with the British Linen Bank in 1971, he transferred to head office in Edinburgh, joining a new venture for the bank - business development. This fledgling department turned prior convention on its head by making direct overtures to businesses already well established with rival banks in an effort to gain new customers. Brian Ross's flair, charm and conviviality made him a natural in this environment. Around this time, the bank was establishing itself as the "oil bank" and much of the effort of the business development department was focussed on rapidly developing North Sea oil and gas activities, in which Mr Ross took an increasing interest.
In 1976, the bank opened its first overseas representative office, in Houston, Texas, to develop further its growing links with American oil companies and other related businesses. Mr Ross transferred to the Houston Office where he remained for a few years travelling far and wide throughout the USA - a bit of a challenge for a reluctant flier. He established himself firmly in both his business and social lives in Houston - confirmed shortly before his return to Scotland by being appointed a freeman of the city of Houston, an honour which he cherished.
Upon his return, he served in Aberdeen, still booming then with North Sea activity. Mr Ross however was beginning to think about pastures new, and left the bank to join Aberdeen Asset Management.
He had a wide circle of friends in both the north east and also in Perthshire where he was brought up and where he settled in Blairgowrie. after retirement. His interests outside work included horses, travel, music, community affairs and languages. His interest in Scottish country dancing led him to be a teacher to his circle of acquaintances – and subsequently he was in much demand at parties. His booming voice will never be forgotten. At weekly Sunday evening classes at the Scout Club Hall at Ardoe, Aberdeenshire, he tried his best to get an unruly and many “useless individuals” with two left feet to get it together to do a reel of the 51st Division or Duke of Perth - "A right, a left, a right, a left!" will be indelibly printed in the memories of pupils forever.
He was known to his huge circle of friends and their families as Uncle Brian. He described himself as an unclaimed treasure and remained a bachelor, loved and adored, but claimed by everyone lucky enough to have known him. He seemed always to be on a diet, largely ignoring the instructions of his various dieticians. At the end of one such course a few years ago he was informed rather reprovingly that he had achieved a "negative weight loss". He was highly delighted by this information.
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