Education
He was educated at the Royal High School, Edinburgh, and Edinburgh University.
He was educated at the Royal High School, Edinburgh, and Edinburgh University.
Whilst at university aged 19 he set himself up as a freelance reporter on the Spanish Civil War. Returning to university in 1940 he took his Master of Arts.
During World World War II he served as a Major in the Anti-Aircraft Command, a part of the army. After the war he was set the task of reorganising German newspaper and publishing industries in the British occupation zone of Germany.
He was responsible for the launch of Die Welt choosing Axel Springer as its publisher.
Returning to Edinburgh from 1948-1961 he worked for the Edinburgh Evening News eventually becoming General Manager. In 1962 he was recruited by Harley Drayton as director of United Newspapers becoming chairman in 1966.
Within three years he had doubled the size of United acquiring of Yorkshire Post Newspapers and Punch magazine. He had directorships of several other organisations and was chairman of Reuters from 1968-1979 during which time its turnover rose from £6m to £73m.
From 1979 he was chairman of Thames Television.