Diageo, the leading global premium drinks business, has paid tribute to Peter Lederer for his outstanding contribution to the company and for his leadership in Scottish civic life as he announced plans to retire.
Mr Lederer will retire as a director of Diageo in Scotland and as Chairman of Gleneagles Hotel at the end of this year, bringing to a conclusion a distinguished career at the forefront of Scottish hospitality and tourism spanning 30 years.
Mr Lederer’s principal role throughout that time was running the Gleneagles Hotel and Golf Resort, which is owned by Diageo. Mr Lederer is credited with leading the transformation of the hotel from a seasonal golf resort into one of the world’s leading luxury hotels and was instrumental in bringing The 2014 Ryder Cup to Gleneagles in September this year.
In recent years after handing over operational control of the hotel to Patrick Elsmie – who also announced his retirement last month – Mr Lederer played a broader leadership role for Diageo’s business in Scotland, representing the company on the CBI Scotland board and the Secretary of State for Scotland’s Business Board. He also led the establishment of the Diageo Learning for Life Scotland programme, a £5million initiative launched in January 2014 to help young unemployed people find training and job opportunities in the hospitality industry.
Diageo Corporate Relations Director Charlotte Lambkin led the tributes to Mr Lederer on behalf of the company:
“Peter Lederer’s contribution to Diageo and to Scottish public life has been remarkable.
“Diageo is proud to call Gleneagles Hotel part of its corporate family and Peter was instrumental in transforming it into a global benchmark for luxury and quality hospitality and for bringing the Ryder Cup to Scotland, with such outstanding success. He has also been a great ambassador for Diageo and particularly for our business in Scotland.
“Peter’s contribution has been much wider than just Diageo and Gleneagles. He is rightly respected across Scottish civic life for his leadership and for his major contribution to the hospitality and tourism sector in which he has been an outstanding figure for the past 30 years.”
Commenting on his retirement plans, Mr Lederer paid his own tribute to those he has worked with over his three decades at Gleneagles and Diageo:
“I have had a wonderful 30 years as part of Gleneagles Hotel and Diageo. It has been a privilege to be part of such great industry, both hospitality and Scotch Whisky, which are at the forefront of promoting Scotland on the world stage. I would like to thank all of those I have worked with over that time and who made it such a rewarding and fulfilling career.
“I would also like to thank all of those outside Diageo, particularly in the hospitality and tourism sector, who I have worked with. Anything I have achieved in my career has always been part of a team effort and I’m grateful for the support I have received along the way.”