The Lord Lieutenant deals with many of the ceremonial functions associated with representing the Sovereign in his area, co-ordinates Royal visits to the county, presents awards, maintains close links with HM Armed Forces and liaises with the King's private office on county matters.

[1] The current Lord Lieutenant of Renfrewshire is, since March 2019, is Colonel Peter McCarthy.

[2] The Clerk to the Lieutenancy is Mrs Linda Hutchison and is based at the headquarters of East Renfrewshire Council in Giffnock.

On 13 March 2019, Queen Elizabeth II announced that Colonel Peter McCarthy would take the position of lord-lieutenant following the retirement of Guy Clark.

[4] McCarthy was born in 1953 and after attending Welbeck College served as an army officer in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.