The Times: Knighthood for oilman who took a gamble: “BILL GAMMELL, the Scottish entrepreneur who turned Cairn Energy into a FTSE 100 giant after a gamble on an Indian oilfield, is knighted in the New Year’s Honours List.”: “His decision to stick with an exploration prospect in northwestern India that had been discarded by Shell paid off with a string of oil discoveries.”: Saturday 31 December 2005
By Liz Chong
BILL GAMMELL, the Scottish entrepreneur who turned Cairn Energy into a FTSE 100 giant after a gamble on an Indian oilfield, is knighted in the New Year’s Honours List.
Mr Gammell, who counts Tony Blair and George W. Bush among his closest friends, was praised for “services to Scottish business”. His decision to stick with an exploration prospect in northwestern India that had been discarded by Shell paid off with a string of oil discoveries.
John Ritblat, who spent more than 30 years at the helm of British Land, is knighted for his support of the arts. He is chairman of the trustees of the Wallace Collection and a major benefactor to the British Library.
There is a knighthood for David Varney, chairman of HM Revenue and Customs, accused by MPs of complacency over tax credit overpayments.
Adrian Montague, the Chancellor’s favourite private finance expert who was called on to fix problems at Network Rail and British Energy before turning his attention to the long-delayed Crossrail project, is knighted.
Michael Lynch, founder and head of Autonomy, the software company, is appointed OBE. Mr Lynch donated £20,000 to the Labour Party in June.
John Cridland, the CBI’s deputy director-general, is appointed OBE, as is Ian Livingstone, creative director at Eidos, known for its Lara Croft video games.
Kim Winser, who revived the failing Pringle knitwear firm, is one of few women in business to be appointed OBE. Rebecca George, director of UK government business at IBM and chairman of the Women in IT Forum, a DTI-backed industry working group, is also appointed OBE.
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