Pharmacy Graduate to Global Retail Leader: Gordon Reid’s Inspiring Path
Gordon Reid (left) and Heriot-Watt Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Richard A. Williams (right)
Gordon Reid, originally from a small village in Fife, Scotland, has built an international career that has taken him across Europe, Asia, and North America.
Gordon, along with his brother, were amongst the first in their family to attend university. He studied Pharmacy at Heriot-Watt University from 1979 to 1993 and, upon graduating, began working as a pharmacist with Boots in the UK.
After 15 years with Boots, he joined A.S. Watson and moved to Asia, spending time in Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea. Joining Tesco in 2008 then took him to Hungary, India, and China. In 2013 he made his final move to The US as President of Giant Food and Finally Stop and Shop where he retired in 2025.
It was in the US that he was invited to join the Board of "The American Friends of Heriot Watt'. This registered 501(c)(3) organisation provides alumni and friends based in the USA with a tax efficient way to support the university. The organisation is led by a group of dedicated alumni and friends who share a potent belief in Heriot-Watt's founding vision.
When asked why he decided to join the Board of the American Friends of Heriot-Watt University Gordon said:
I have been fortunate in life to have had a challenging and satisfying career and a big part of that opportunity started when I attended Heriot-Watt. I believe that education is the path to success and personal growth, it can change the fortunes of a family in one generation, it lifts people up to be the best they can be, and I received this opportunity at Heriot-Watt. I would encourage all Alumni to consider what they have achieved as a result of their time at HWU and give whatever you can to give the next generation the opportunity we have had.