HIGHLY RESPECTED MONYMUSK BUSINESS MAN RETIRES

Date: April 2009

Left: Neil McArthur

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A respected local businessman has announced his retirement, bringing the curtain down on an extremely successful 46 year career.

Neil McArthur, from Monymusk, has now officially ‘headed off into the sunset’ after stepping down from his role as commercial director with leading Aberdeen-based industrial cleaning and waste disposal company, MS Industrial Services Limited (MSIS), where he has worked since 2004.

Years – and indeed decades – before joining MSIS, Neil entered the world of work in 1963, taking up a position with the Clydesdale Bank, where he held a number of senior positions during his 33 years there, including corporate banking manager, business banking manager, Aberdeen, and district manager, North Scotland.

In 1994 he spent a brief spell in Melbourne, where he worked on a major project with the Clydesdale Bank’s parent company, National Australia Group.

Keen to experience a fresh challenge, Neil left the banking sector in 1996 and entered the oil spill intervention industry as managing director with Briggs Marine Environmental Services Limited – a position which saw him travel the world securing business, from Brazil to Egypt and Azerbaijan to South-east Asia.

He went on to work as a managing director at Ceto Environmental Limited, before joining MSIS, where he has played an integral role in growing the business.

During his five years at MSIS, the company’s annual sales have more than trebled to £5.5million, and its annual profits have risen from around £150,000 to almost £1million.

Neil is also a non-executive director with the Cromarty Firth Port Authority, and plans to continue in this role in the early days of his retirement.

As well as having a major impact on the businesses he has worked with, Neil’s charity work has seen him and colleagues assist in raising an impressive amount of cash for worthwhile causes.

For more than 30 years, Neil, who is now 63-years-old, has organised and taken part in a host of fundraising events for Cancer Research Campaign and, more recently, CRANES (Cancer Research Aberdeen & North East Scotland), assisting the charities in raising more than £6million.

In 2007 he walked solo from Mallaig to Monymusk, a distance of 183 miles for cancer charities CLAN (Cancer Link Aberdeen and North) and ClicSargent.

Neil says he has thoroughly enjoyed his career – which has seen him witness major changes in the way business is conducted – and, although looking forward to his retirement, he will miss the camaraderie within the MSIS team.

He said: “When I first started work back in 1963, there was no email and posted correspondence would have been responded to in around seven days from the time of writing – now it is more like seven minutes!

“My time with MSIS has been extremely enjoyable and I will miss the team spirit, which is such an integral and important part of the company. I’ve been lucky enough to work with a great bunch of people, who have become true friends over the years.

“I am looking forward though to spending more quality time with my family, and I plan one or two non-executive roles. I’ll direct more of my energy and influence towards new charity work, as well as improving my shooting and bagpipe playing skills!”

David Skinner, MSIS’ managing director, added: “During Neil’s time with MSIS, he has become a key figure at the company, driving the business forward with vision and his invaluable wealth of experience and knowledge.

“He will be very much missed by all his colleagues and we wish him all the very best for a happy and fulfilling retirement.”