On Friday 5 November 2021 Mr Alan Robertson was confirmed as the 267th Master of the Royal Company of Merchants at the Kirking of the Master service in St Giles’ Cathedral.
Alan is a chartered surveyor and spent the majority of his 35 career with international real estate services firm JLL, initially in Scotland where he served as managing director, and laterally in Istanbul and Dubai. Prior to retiring and returning to Edinburgh in 2018 he served as CEO for the firm in the Middle East & Africa region. He has been a member of the Company since 1989 and served as an Assistant on the Master’s Court from 1996-1999. During his term as an Assistant he was a member of the Erskine Stewarts Melville governing council and served as Chair from 2005-2009.
The new Master processed up the High Street to St Giles with the members of his Court before entering the Cathedral, which held fewer congregational members than is usual due to the ongoing pandemic.
The service was conducted by Rev Calum MacLeod, Minister of St Giles and Rev Charles Robertson, the Royal Company of Merchants Chaplain.
Outside the Cathedral those who had gathered were treated to the Pipes and Drums of Erskine Stewart’s Melville Schools (ESMS). ESMS also provided the choir for the event.
The new Master now embarks on his two years in office, when he will be focussed on implementing the Company Strategy which has been developed over the last two years. He is particularly keen to attract new younger members and increase our activities in the charitable sector.
