About Iain Tennant
Lived 1919 – 2006 (aged 87). Iain Tennant was a British businessperson.
Sir Iain Mark Tennant (11 March 191925 September 2006) was a Scottish businessman.
Life and career Born in North Berwick, the only son of John Edward Tennant and Georgina Helen Kirkpatrick, he was educated at Eton College and Magdalene College, Cambridge. He served in Egypt with the 2nd Battalion, Scots Guards from 1940 to 1942, and was an intelligence officer with 201 Guards' Brigade. He was captured at the surrender of Tobruk and was a prisoner of war in Italy and Germany until 1945.
In 1946, he married Lady Margaret Helen Isla Marion Ogilvy (1920–2014), daughter of Colonel David Ogilvy, 12th Earl of Airlie in Westminster. and had a two sons, Mark and Christopher and a daughter; Christopher died before his death in 2006. His daughter, Emma, married Sir Jocelyn Stevens.
Tennant's business appointments include chairman of Grampian Television from 1968 to 1989 (he was vice-chairman from 1960 to 1968), director of Caledonian Associated Cinemas from 1950 to 1990; director of Clydesdale Bank from 1969 to 1989; director of Abbey National Building Society; and honorary director with Seagram Co Ltd; chairman of Glenlivet and Glen Grant Distilleries Ltd; and was chairman of the board of Gordonstoun School from 1957 to 1972.
Tennant was a member of the Royal Company of Archers from 1950. He was a Deputy Lieutenant of Moray in 1954, alongside Kenneth Mackessack. He was Lord Lieutenant of Moray from 1963 to 1994, Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1988 and 1989, and Crown Estate commissioner for Scotland from 1970 to 1990. He was appointed a Knight of the Thistle in 1986. He also served on Moray and Nairn County Council from 1956 to 1964. He was a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.
Don’t just read it —
keep it.
Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.
- E-book
- Audio
- Video
Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free
Important facts
People in Iain Tennant's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Iain Tennant's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Iain Tennant?
British businessman
When was Iain Tennant born?
Iain Tennant was born on 11 March 1919 in North Berwick.
When did Iain Tennant die?
Iain Tennant died on 25 September 2006.
What was Iain Tennant's occupation?
Iain Tennant was a businessperson.
What nationality was Iain Tennant?
Iain Tennant was British.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Iain Tennant. https://biography.guide/iain-tennant/
MLA: "Iain Tennant." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/iain-tennant/.
Chicago: "Iain Tennant." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/iain-tennant/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-22 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
Page generated 2026-09-27 05:04 UTC