The Rt Hon Sir Malcolm Rifkind, MP
Sir Malcolm Rifkind has been a Member of the UK Parliament since 1974 and served as a minister under Conservative governments over an 18-year period, eventually becoming Foreign Secretary. He is also a qualified barrister and Queen’s Counsel. He is chairman of the Corporate Responsibility and Reputation Committee.
Non-Executive Director
Sir Malcolm was born in Edinburgh in 1946 and was educated at George Watson’s College and Edinburgh University where he studied law before taking a postgraduate degree in political science. His early career was in the law, where he was called to the Scottish Bar in 1970 and practised as an Advocate until 1974.
At this point, his political career began in earnest and he entered Parliament in 1974, representing Edinburgh Pentlands for many years, and latterly a London constituency. When the Conservatives came to power in 1979, he was swiftly appointed to junior ministerial office, first at the Scottish Office and then at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. He was promoted to Minister of State in 1983 and went on to hold successively the positions of Secretary of State for Scotland, for Transport and for Defence. His last ministerial role in the Conservative government that ended in 1997 was that of Foreign Secretary, which he held for two years.
He was appointed a Queen's Counsel in 1985, and in 1997 he was knighted in recognition of his public service.
Sir Malcolm is a non-executive director of Aberdeen Asset Management, Adam Smith International and Continental Farmers’ Group. He is also on the Advisory Board of LEK Partnership.
He is married with two adult children.
