Alastair Down

Alastair Frederick Down
Born	1914-07-23 Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland
Died	2004-10-22
Occupation(s)	Military officer, chartered accountant, oil industry executive
Years active	1935–1983
Known for	Chairman of Burmah Oil (1975–1983)

Colonel Sir Alastair Frederick Down (23 July 1914 – 22 October 2004) was a distinguished Scottish military officer, chartered accountant, and executive in the petroleum industry. He gained recognition primarily for his role as chairman of Burmah Oil from 1975 until 1983, during which he successfully averted the company’s financial collapse.

Biography

Born in Kirkcaldy, Fife, Down was the son of Frederick Edward Down, an officer in the Indian Police, and Margaret Isobel Hutchison. His early education took place at Edinburgh Academy between 1922 and 1927, followed by studies at Marlborough College from 1927 to 1932. He qualified as a professional accountant in Edinburgh in 1938 and commenced employment with the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company that same year, initially assigned to Mandatory Palestine.

Down received his commission into the 7th/9th Battalion of the Royal Scots in 1935 and actively served during World War II with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, rising to senior subaltern by 1940. He led a platoon during the Battle of Sidi Barrani, where he sustained the loss of his right eye and was awarded the Military Cross. Subsequently, he was appointed to the general staff of the British Eighth Army operating in North Africa and Italy, later serving with the First Canadian Army in the Netherlands. By war’s end, he had attained the rank of full colonel. His military distinctions include appointments as Member and Officer of the Order of the British Empire (1942 and 1944 respectively), as well as being named Knight of the Order of Orange-Nassau in 1945.

Following the war, Down returned to work with Anglo-Iranian in Iran until 1947 before relocating to London where he remained until 1954. With the creation of British Petroleum that year, he played a pivotal role in founding BP Canada and served as its inaugural president from 1957 through 1962. Upon his return to London, he occupied senior leadership positions at BP including managing director between 1962 and 1975 and deputy chairman from 1969 to 1975. Additionally, he headed BP Oil Corporation in the United States where he orchestrated its merger with Standard Oil of Ohio.

In 1975, Down departed from BP to assume chairmanship at Burmah Oil, where he successfully restored financial stability and prevented insolvency until his retirement in 1983.

He married Maysie Hilda "Bunny" Mellon in 1947, with whom he had four children. Down was a member of several elite clubs such as the Bath Club and Toronto Club. He received a knighthood as part of the 1978 Birthday Honours.