Our Chair

Stephen Leckie has been VisitScotland Chair since April 2024. In this post, he also serves as an Ex-Officio Board Member of VisitBritain.

Stephen was born and brought up in Perthshire and educated at Morrisons Academy and Strathallan School. He is Lord-Lieutenant of Perth and Kinross.

Stephen is CEO and Executive Chair of Crieff Hydro, a family run hotel and estate. The company is now the oldest trading registered company in Scotland.

The Resort has expanded to include seven hotels, from the Scottish Borders to Glencoe, and attractions that include the Highland Safaris, the 1881 Gin Distillery at Peebles Hydro, and the Action Glen at Crieff Hydro.

As an operator of hotels, self-catering, and attractions across different parts of rural Scotland, Stephen is well versed in the challenges and opportunities on the ground.

Stephen is a long-time advocate for Scotland’s wider tourism and business community, he was previously invited to serve as Chair of the Scottish Government’s Tourism Leadership Group.

As a longstanding Chair, he is familiar with the Government interface and with working to maximise the impact of boards and organisations. Most recently, Stephen served as Chair of the Scottish Tourism Alliance (STA) until end March 2024.

He enjoys sailing, skiing with his family, and is a big vintage and classic car fan. Stephen has played the bagpipes since age eight.