Following graduation from the University of St Andrews with a BSc in chemistry and psychology, he was with Unilever for 26 years.
[1] Ferguson has been president of the Food and Drink Federation and was CEO of Tate & Lyle plc from May 2003 until October 2009.
[citation needed] He is the current chairman of Wilton Park, Berendsen plc and Stobart Group Ltd.
[2][3] He is also the honorary vice president of the British Nutrition Foundation (BNF) and is the lead non-executive board member for the UK government's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
[5] In the Queen's 2003 Birthday Honours List, Ferguson was appointed a CBE for services to the food industry.