{{Short description|Scottish businessman (born 1965)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2017}} {{Use British English|date=August 2017}} {{Infobox person | name = Keith Cochrane | image = | caption = | birth_name = Keith Robertson Cochrane | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1965|02|11|df=yes}} | birth_place = Edinburgh, Scotland | death_date = | death_place = | education = | alma_mater = Glasgow University | occupation = Businessman | years_active = 1986–present | title = CEO, Schenck Process | term = 2019– | predecessor = Andreas Evertz | successor = | spouse = | children = 2 }}
'''Keith Robertson Cochrane''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|CBE|FRSE}} (born 11 February 1965) is a Scottish businessman and former chief executive (CEO) of Weir Group, Stagecoach Group and Carillion plc (interim). In March 2019, he was appointed CEO of Schenck Process.
==Early life== Born in Edinburgh, Cochrane was educated at Dunblane High School, Perthshire, and studied accountancy at Glasgow University.<ref>"Cochrane, Keith Robertson, (born 11 Feb. 1965), Chief Executive, Weir Group PLC, 2009–16 (Group Finance Director, 2006–09)." WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO</ref> He qualified as a chartered accountant with Arthur Andersen.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web|url=http://www.rsno.org.uk/about/board/?director=Keith+Cochrane&action=Profile |title=Keith Cochrane - Honorary Treasurer |publisher=Royal Scottish National Orchestra |access-date=10 November 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222025914/http://www.rsno.org.uk/about/board/?director=Keith+Cochrane&action=Profile |archive-date=22 February 2014 }}</ref>
==Career== Cochrane was Group Finance Director of Stagecoach Group plc from 1996, becoming Group Chief Executive in 2000. He then joined ScottishPower plc in 2003 as Director of Group Financial Reporting, and from 2005 was Group Director of Finance.<ref name="businessweek1">{{cite web|url=http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=428375&ticker=WEIR:LN&previousCapId=416620&previousTitle=UBS%20AG-REG| title=Keith Robertson Cochrane : Executive profile and biography |publisher=Bloomberg BusinessWeek|date= |access-date=10 November 2012}}{{dead link|date=April 2023|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Cochrane became Honorary Treasurer of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra in September 2008.<ref name="businessweek1"/>
On 2 November 2009 Cochrane became Group Chief Executive of Weir Group plc, having joined Weir as Group Finance Director in July 2006. He resigned as a director of Weir Group on 30 September 2016.<ref name="Cochrane">{{cite web|url=https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/officers/krm0AUimqKgzdp2qRmHczhQBKFw/appointments |title=Keith Robertson Cochrane|publisher=Companies House|access-date=16 January 2018}}</ref> Cochrane said that he was "looking for the next opportunity" and that the Weir Group had become "a bit samey".<ref name="Herald">{{cite news|title=Keith Cochrane handed £770,000 to walk from Weir|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/business_hq/company_news/15153650.Keith_Cochrane_handed___770_000_to_walk_from_Weir/|access-date=16 January 2018|publisher=The Herald (Glasgow)|date=14 March 2017}}</ref>
In 2015, Cochrane was appointed as the lead "non-executive director” for the Scotland Office and Office of the Advocate General.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/15886349.Revealed__Carillion_boss_helps_Mundell_run_the_Scotland_Office/|title=David Mundell urged to drop Carillion interim chief executive as Scotland Office adviser|publisher=The Herald|date=21 January 2018}}</ref>
Cochrane was appointed to the board of Carillion plc on 2 July 2015 and on 10 July 2017 he became its Interim Chief Executive, taking over from Richard Howson.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2017/07/10/carillions-new-boss-promises-aggressive-plan-get-back-track/|title=Carillion's new boss promises 'aggressive' plan to get back on track|publisher=The Telegraph|date=10 July 2017|access-date=19 August 2017}}</ref> He remained in this position until the company went into voluntary liquidation on 15 January 2018.<ref name="BBC">{{cite news|title=Carillion to go into liquidation|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-42687032#|access-date=16 January 2018|work=BBC News|publisher=BBC|date=15 January 2018}}</ref> In the final report of the Parliamentary inquiry into the collapse of Carillion, published on 16 May 2018, the Carillion board was described as "either negligently ignorant of the rotten culture at Carillion or complicit in it."<ref name="Carillion report">{{cite book|title=Carillion: Second Joint report from the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and Work and Pensions Committees of Session 2017–19|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmworpen/769/769.pdf|date=2018|publisher=House of Commons|location=London|page=88|access-date=16 May 2018}}</ref> The report continued: :"Keith Cochrane was an inside appointment as interim Chief Executive, having served as a non-executive on the board that exhibited little challenge or insight. He was unable to convince investors of his ability to lead and rebuild the company. ... Non-executives are there to scrutinise executive management. They have a particularly vital role in challenging risk management and strategy and should act as a bulwark against reckless executives. Carillion’s NEDs were, however, unable to provide any remotely convincing evidence of their effective impact."<ref name="Carillion report"/>
The report also recommended that the Insolvency Service should consider whether the former Carillion directors, including Cochrane, could be disqualified from acting as a director.<ref name="Carillion report recommendation">{{cite book|title=Carillion: Second Joint report from the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and Work and Pensions Committees of Session 2017–19|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmworpen/769/769.pdf|date=2018|publisher=House of Commons|location=London|page=93|access-date=16 May 2018}}</ref> In January 2021, the Insolvency Service said it would seek to ban eight former Carillion directors, including Cochrane, from holding senior boardroom positions.<ref name="Partington-13Jan2021">{{cite news |last1=Partington |first1=Richard |title=Legal bid launched to ban ex-Carillion directors from top boardroom roles |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/jan/13/legal-bid-launched-ban-ex-carillion-directors-top-boardroom-roles |access-date=13 January 2021 |work=Guardian |date=13 January 2021}}</ref> However, a trial due to start on 16 October 2023 was cancelled after the Insolvency Service decided it was not in the public interest to pursue Cochrane and four others.<ref name="Weinfass-13Oct2023">{{cite news |last1=Weinfass |first1=Iain |title=Insolvency Service drops case against former Carillion chair and CEO |url=https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/sections/contractors/carillion/insolvency-service-drops-case-against-former-carillion-chair-and-ceo-13-10-2023/ |access-date=17 October 2023 |work=Construction News |date=13 October 2023}}</ref>
In September 2017, Cochrane was appointed non-executive chairman of fracking company Third Energy Onshore.<ref name="Duke-3Sep2017">{{cite news|last1=Duke|first1=Simon|title=City veterans Keith Cochrane and Lord Gadhia go fracking in Yorkshire|url=https://www.thetimes.com/business-money/article/third-energy-city-veterans-keith-cochrane-and-lord-gadhia-go-fracking-in-yorkshire-dwz6dd6zj|access-date=10 February 2018|work=Times|date=3 September 2017}}</ref><ref name="Helm-10Feb2018">{{cite news|last1=Helm|first1=Toby|title=Carillion links put fracking firm's scheme in doubt|url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/feb/10/carillion-links-north-yorkshire-fracking-third-energy|access-date=10 February 2018|work=Guardian|date=10 February 2018}}</ref> He resigned as a director in September 2018.<ref name="Hayhurst-18Sep2018">{{cite news |last1=Hayhurst |first1=Ruth |title="City heavyweights" resign from fracking firm, Third Energy |url=https://drillordrop.com/2018/09/18/city-heavyweights-resign-from-fracking-firm-third-energy/ |access-date=19 September 2018 |work=Drill or Drop |date=18 September 2018}}</ref>
On 4 January 2018 Cochrane was appointed as Chairman of the Advisory Board of the German equipment manufacturer, Schenck Process Group.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.schenckprocess.com/us/press-releases/Blackstone-Completes-Acquisition-of-Schenck-Process/ |title=Blackstone Completes Acquisition of Schenck Process Appoints New Chairman|date=4 January 2018|access-date=20 January 2018}}</ref>
In October 2018, Cochrane was appointed chairman of Peterhead-based engineer, Score Group.<ref name="Findlay-8Oct2018">{{cite news |last1=Findlay |first1=Keith |title=Executive of bankrupt giant lands new top job |url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/business/north-of-scotland/1579851/executive-of-bankrupt-giant-lands-new-top-job/ |access-date=8 October 2018 |work=Press & Journal |date=6 October 2018}}</ref>
On 1 March 2019, he took over as chief executive of Schenck Process.<ref name="Global Cement">{{cite news |title=Keith Cochrane appointed as chief executive officer of Schenck Process |url=http://www.globalcement.com/news/item/8943-keith-cochrane-appointed-as-chief-executive-officer-of-schenck-process |access-date=9 April 2019 |work=Global Cement |date=13 March 2019}}</ref>
==Honours== In March 2016, Cochrane was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Scotland's National Academy for science and letters.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.royalsoced.org.uk/1200_2016ElectedFellows.html |title=The Royal Society of Edinburgh | 2016 Elected Fellows |website=Royalsoced.org.uk |date= |access-date=2016-03-08 |archive-date=8 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161008113046/https://www.royalsoced.org.uk/1200_2016ElectedFellows.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Cochrane was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2016 Birthday Honours for services to business in Scotland.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=61608|supp=y|page=B8|date=11 June 2016}}</ref>
==Personal life== Cochrane's interests include golf, gardening and watching Scotland play rugby.<ref name="autogenerated1"/>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cochrane, Keith}} Category:Living people Category:1965 births Category:British chief executives in the manufacturing industry Category:Businesspeople from Edinburgh Category:People from Dunblane Category:Scottish accountants Category:Scottish chief executives Category:Alumni of the University of Glasgow Category:Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Category:Carillion people Category:20th-century Scottish businesspeople Category:21st-century Scottish businesspeople