James Blyth, Baron Blyth of Rowington

The son of Daniel Blyth and Jane Power Carlton, Blyth was educated at Spier's School, Beith, and the University of Glasgow, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts in history in 1963.

[3] From 1987 to 1996, he was a chairman of the London Business School (LBS), and to 1998 director and chief executive of The Boots Company.

[5] Blyth received an honorary doctorate from the University of Nottingham in 1992.

He was chairman of Diageo, parent company of the Popov and Smirnoff brands of vodka, as well as Guinness malt beverages, until June 2008.

[6] Blyth has been married to Pamela Anne Campbell-Dixon since 1967; they have one daughter and one deceased son.