Ann Gloag
Ann Gloag | |
|---|---|
| Born | Ann Heron Souter December 10, 1942 Scotland |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, activist, philanthropist |
| Known for | Co-founder of Stagecoach Group |
| Notable work | Founder of Freedom From Fistula Foundation; executive producer of Shout Gladi Gladi |
Ann Heron Gloag DBE (born Souter on 10 December 1942) is a prominent Scottish entrepreneur, activist, and advocate for charitable causes. She is best known as a co-founder of the transport enterprise Stagecoach Group.
As reported by the Sunday Times Rich List in 2024, Gloag and her brother, Sir Brian Souter, collectively possess a net worth of £815 million, marking an increase of £35 million compared to the previous year.
In 2023, Gloag placed Beaufort Castle—her Category A listed estate located in the Scottish Highlands—on the market for £7.5 million. This historic property near Kiltarlity, to the west of Inverness, comprises a 26-bedroom main residence, a chapel, six cottages, and spans 127 acres. She originally purchased the estate in 1994 for approximately £1.5 million.
Biography
Gloag received her education at Caledonian Road Primary School followed by Perth High School. She trained as a nurse and devoted two decades to working as a burn unit sister. Regarded as Scotland’s wealthiest woman, she also acts as a trustee for the charity Mercy Ships and has supported its hospital ship initiatives.
Stagecoach
Ann Gloag launched the Stagecoach Group in 1980 alongside her brother, Brian Souter, and first husband, Robin Gloag, utilizing redundancy funds from her father. The company initially operated bus services from Dundee to London. Throughout the early 1990s, Stagecoach grew by acquiring National Bus Company operations across Cumberland, Hampshire, and the East Midlands—including Ribble, Southdown, and United Counties. By 1993, further purchases expanded Stagecoach’s footprint into Scotland, Newcastle, London, and Manchester.
Manston Airport
In November 2013, Gloag purchased Kent International Airport (commonly known as Manston Airport) for a nominal sum of £1. Her business partner in this venture was Pauline Bradley, a corporate lawyer and former head of joint ventures at Bank of Scotland who is recognized as an influential figure in Scottish commerce.
Although initial commitments suggested long-term investment plans, management announced consultations regarding closure in April 2014. This uncertainty prompted major carriers such as KLM to withdraw services. Several bids surfaced during the consultation period to acquire the airport; nonetheless, Manston ceased operations on 15 May 2014. The closure resulted in the loss of 144 jobs at the airport along with wider regional economic effects. Gloag did not publicly clarify the reasons behind the shutdown nor did she reject offers to sell.
The trade union Unite contested the consultation process. Meanwhile, Sir Roger Gale, MP for Thanet North, denounced the closure as "corporate vandalism." By 2016, Gale alongside groups like Save Manston Airport continued efforts advocating for reopening and opposing alternative development proposals for the site. In May 2014, then-Prime Minister David Cameron affirmed that responsibility for the airport’s future rested with its owner but acknowledged ongoing government discussions with Gloag. In July 2017, planning inspectors upheld aviation use protections under EC4 regulations, dismissing appeals seeking to alter the site’s designation.
Personal life
Since 1995, Gloag has been owner of Beaufort Castle near Inverness and also acquired Kinfauns Castle near Perth in 2004. At Kinfauns Castle, she successfully limited public access to woodland areas on the estate in 2007.
Her former husband, Robin Gloag—father to their late son Jonathan—died in a car accident in 2007. Jonathan died by suicide in 1999. In 1990, Ann Gloag remarried businessman and former minister David McCleary.
A devoted member of the Church of the Nazarene, she founded the Freedom From Fistula Foundation and served as executive producer for Shout Gladi Gladi, a documentary focusing on obstetric fistula in Africa. She actively supports international humanitarian organizations and has adopted both a Kenyan son and grandson.
In January 2023, Gloag along with her husband and two relatives faced human trafficking allegations which she denied. By October 2024, all charges were dismissed with no further legal action pursued.
Awards and recognitions
In the 2019 New Year Honours, Gloag was elevated to the rank of Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in recognition of her contributions to business and charitable efforts. Earlier, she had been honored with an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) during the 2004 Birthday Honours for her philanthropic work.