Andrew Wilson (economist)
Andrew Wilson | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1970 Lanark, Scotland |
| Occupation(s) | Economist, entrepreneur, politician |
| Years active | 1999–present |
| Known for | Former Member of the Scottish Parliament, Director at Santander UK, Chairperson of the Sustainable Growth Commission |
Andrew Wilson (born 1970 in Lanark, Scotland) is an economist, entrepreneur, and former Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP). He currently holds the position of Director of Communications, Marketing & Responsible Banking at Santander UK and led the Sustainable Growth Commission, which presented its 2018 findings to the First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon.
Early life and education
Wilson earned his degree in economics and politics from the University of Strathclyde in 1992. While studying, he was elected vice president of the Students Association and served as national convener for the Scottish National Party (SNP) student group, the Federation of Student Nationalists. After joining the Government Economic Service, he gained experience working with both the Forestry Commission and the Scottish Office. In 1996, Wilson took on a researcher role at SNP Headquarters in Edinburgh before transitioning to the Royal Bank of Scotland in 1997 as a business economist.
Member of Scottish Parliament
In 1999, Wilson was elected to represent Central Scotland in the inaugural session of the reinstated Scottish Parliament, securing one of five SNP MSP seats through the Additional Members System.
During his tenure as an MSP, he held various Shadow Cabinet roles including spokesperson for Finance, Economy, Lifelong Learning, and Transport on behalf of the SNP. Known for his pro-market economic stance and emerging leadership within the SNP, Wilson championed fiscal autonomy ('Devo-Max'), a policy that attracted cross-party backing and support from outlets such as The Scotsman. He sparked debate by suggesting that British identity could persist following independence and encouraged Scots to back England’s football team during the 2002 World Cup. Among his policy initiatives were creating an SNP alternative to the private finance initiative—which later evolved into The Scottish Futures Trust—and advocating for a Scottish Sovereign Wealth Fund financed by North Sea Oil revenues.
Wilson narrowly lost the Cumbernauld and Kilsyth constituency in 2003 by 520 votes. That election saw only three SNP MSPs elected from Central Scotland, resulting in him losing his parliamentary seat.
Post-parliamentary career
After leaving parliament, Wilson held several roles at RBS Group, including Deputy Chief Economist and Head of Group Communications. In August 2012, he transitioned to a client-facing role at WPP.
He delivered the Donaldson Lecture at the SNP conference in 2013. The following year, Wilson co-established Charlotte Street Partners, a strategic communications consultancy operating out of Edinburgh and London, where he gained prominence within the industry. He exited Charlotte Street Partners in February 2023 and joined Santander UK plc as Director of Communications and Responsible Banking in March 2023.
Wilson has served as a trustee for both the John Smith Memorial Trust and the John Smith Centre for Public Service at the University of Glasgow. His governance experience includes membership on the board of the Scottish Crop Research Institute and directorship at Motherwell F.C. during two periods: 2010–2015 and 2020–2024. He is also affiliated with institutions such as the Institute for Fiscal Studies and the David Hume Institute, while supporting cultural bodies like National Galleries Scotland and Sistema Scotland.
As a former columnist for Scotland on Sunday, Wilson regularly contributes opinion articles to leading newspapers including The Scotsman, The Times, and The Daily Telegraph.
In September 2016, he was appointed chairperson of the Sustainable Growth Commission, providing guidance to Scotland’s First Minister. The next year, he joined University College London’s Independent Commission on Referendums.
Wilson additionally holds trustee status with the Edinburgh International Culture Summit Foundation and serves as a director within the Aldersgate Group.
Personal life
Wilson lives between Perthshire and Edinburgh alongside his wife, Mhairi Wilson, whom he wed in Florence in July 2022. He is a father to three children and also has a stepson.