Alexander Leitch, Baron Leitch
Alexander Park Leitch, Baron Leitch (born 20 October 1947 in Fife, Scotland) is a British Labour peer and Chairman of Bupa and FNZ Ltd. He was previously Chairman of Intrinsic Financial Services and a Founder Member. Additionally, he was chairman at Scottish Widows plc, Deputy chairman at Lloyds Banking Group plc, and on the Board of Old Mutual Wealth. He was a Trustee of the Lloyds Banking Group Charitable Foundation. He is Chancellor of Carnegie College, Chairman of a new think tank called ‘The Centre for Modern Families’ and strategic adviser to a Prince of Wales  charity called PRIME. Lord Leitch's past roles include: Biography. Leitch was born in 1948. He was educated at Dunfermline High School and was offered a place at university two years early, at just 16 years of age. However, he turned his place down and instead headed to London to work in the IT department of an insurance company. In 1965, Sandy started his career as a computer programmer, writing the first ever life assurance ‘search engine’ program in 1967. He remained in the insurance industry throughout his career, rising to become Chief Executive of Allied Dunbar before it was  eventually merged with Zurich Financial Services in 1998. He was then appointed Chief Executive of Zurich Financial Services UK and retired in 2004. Leitch became a life peer as Baron Leitch, of Oakley in Fife on 7 June 2004. Having demonstrated his commitment to public service, he became chair of the National Employment Panel in 2004 and also led the Leitch Review of Skills which was published on 5 December 2006. The objective of the review was "to identify the UK's optimal skills mix for 2020 to maximise economic growth, productivity and social justice, set out the balance of  responsibility for achieving that skills profile and consider the policy framework required to support it." In 2017 he started setting up the ‘What Is More?’ Foundation, to encourage spiritual and multi-faith debate. Relationship with Gordon Brown. Leitch is described as a "confidante" of Gordon Brown. Personal life. He has three daughters from his first marriage, and a young daughter and son from his second. He lives in South Kensington, London and has a home in Edinburgh. He is a keen follower of his local Scottish football team (Dunfermline Athletic) as well as having a passion for antique collecting and  fine malt whisky. He is a Freeman of the City of London. He has an honorary doctorate in business administration and a fellowship from Carnegie College.