John McLean - Chairman, Albany Capital Plc
John is a co-founder director of Albany Capital Plc. He is also managing director of Fairfax Classical Properties Limited, a company that he co-founded in 2003, which builds deluxe houses in the South of England.
John has had extensive business experience in a variety of sectors, including retail, branded products, property investments and development, textiles, mobile telephony, cable TV, manufacturing, licensing and logistics. He has managed operations globally, with specific expertise in China, Australia, USA, Canada and Europe.
In 1994 John co-led a management buy-out of ICS with 3i, which was sold successfully to Hays plc in 1996.
In 1998, he was appointed by Gamma Holdings NV to carry out a strategic review of their UK interests, including Sanderson, the textile and wallpaper company and in 1999, was appointed managing director to implement a turnaround and disposal plan which was completed in 2003.
John has a long track record in the development of growing companies and has operated as both managing director and finance director. John is a Chartered Accountant and was formerly with Coopers & Lybrand in both London and New York.