Co-operative Business Consultants

phone: 01592 205111 and mobile: 07557 410144
email: iain[at]cbc.coop
skype: iaingordonmacdonald

PROFILE

A strongly motivated and committed executive with a wide range of experience in the co-operative and public sectors. Proven leadership skills particularly in motivation and communication. Iain has working relationships at senior level in co-operatives in every country in the world. Current clients include ICA Expo - global co-op trade fair in India 2010 and Manchester 2012. Key player in 2012 International Year of Co-operatives.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Director General, International Co-operative Alliance, Geneva, 2002 - 2010.

Head of the co-operative movement's global body - uniting, representing and serving co-operative enterprises worldwide. Worked closely with the UN and its agencies, especially the International Labour Organisation (ILO). Raising the profile of international co-operation, particularly its ability to provide fair globalisation through co-operative enterprise. The ICA's Global300 project shows that the top 300 co-operative businesses alone have a combined turnover equal to the 10th economy of the world. In 2008 Iain was appointed a GlobalScot by the Scottish Government.

Head of Co-operative Strategy, the Co-operative Group (CWS) Ltd., Manchester, 2001 - 2002

Led the Strategy Unit whose main task was to promote the co-operative agenda and ensure that the co-operative nature of the business was emphasised.

Manager, Membership Affairs, CWS, Manchester, 1996 - 2001

Assisted in reshaping the new democratic structure of the merged CWS/CRS and supported the work of the Co-operative Commission in 2001.

Member Relations Manager, Scottish Co-op, Glasgow, 1986 - 1996

Co-authored International Joint Project for Co-operative Democracy publication "Making Membership Meaningful" presented to the ICA Centennial Congress in Manchester in 1995.

Scottish Education Officer, Co-operative Union, Glasgow, 1979 - 1986

Education Officer, BBC Television, Glasgow, 1981 secondment

Administrative Officer, Inner London Education Authority, London, 1973 - 1979

Executive Officer, Department of the Environment, London, 1967 - 1973

BOARD MEMBERSHIPS

• Mutuo, co-operative think tank, London
• Freedom from Hunger Ambassadors Council, USA
• Co-operative Development Scotland, Glasgow

PUBLIC SERVICE

• Labour and Co-operative Prospective Parliamentary Candidate, Argyll and Bute, Scotland. 1996 - 1997
• Labour and Co-operative Councillor, Strathclyde Regional Council, Scotland 1982 - 1996

QUALIFICATIONS

• Post-graduate Diploma in Adult Education, University of Glasgow, 1982
• MA in History and Race Relations, University of Edinburgh, 1972

LANGUAGES Fluent in English and French.