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Biography
Hector Laing, Baron Laing of Dunphail FRSE, FRSA (12 May 1923 – 21 June 2010) was a British businessman.
The son of Hector Laing and Margaret Norrie Grant was educated at the Loretto School in Musselburgh and Jesus College, Cambridge. Laing served as a tank commander in the Scots Guards between 1942 and 1947, and reached the rank of a Captain. He was Mentioned in Despatches and awarded the US Bronze Star during campaign in France in 1944-45.
Laing followed his father, and grandfather Alexander Grant, inventor of the digestive biscuit, into the McVitie & Price biscuit business and in 1947 became a director. The company merged to form United Biscuits, and Laing became managing director in 1964 and served as chairman from 1972 to 1990.
From 1973 to 1991, Laing was Director of the Bank of England. He was Director of the Exxon Corporation from 1984 to 1994.
Laing married Marian Clare, daughter of John Emilius Laurie in 1950; they had three sons.
He was knighted in 1978 and was created a Conservative life peer as Baron Laing of Dunphail, of Dunphail in the County of Moray on 8 February 1991. Laing was also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.
Laing also received an Honorary Doctorate from Heriot-Watt University in 1986
Lord Laing died on 21 June 2010 after a short illness.
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