Lord Sandy Leitch of Oakley has died at the age of 76

Alexander (Sandy) Leitch grew up in a council house in the village and went on to win an array of honours in the business world and mix with the rich and famous, but he never forgot his West Fife roots. 

He was a former chairman of the FNZ Group, a platform technology provider, and the current group chairman, Gregor Stewart, said: "Sandy was not only a visionary leader but also a kind and generous soul who touched the lives of many.

"His contributions to FNZ, the wider industry, and his passion for improving society will forever be remembered.

"Our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time."

Blythe Masters, FNZ Group CEO, added: "Sandy's reputation for kindness, vision and deep commitment to FNZ was evident in everything he touched. He left an indelible mark on our organisation, and his legacy will continue to inspire us all for years to come.

Lord Leitch of Oakley who has died at the age of 76. (Image: FNZ) "My thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with his family during this incredibly difficult time.

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The youngest of four children, Lord Leitch was born in Blairhall in 1947. He was 18 months old when his father, a miner, died from Addison’s Disease at the age of 35, forcing his mother to work gruelling hours as a cleaner to make ends meet.

A former Dunfermline High pupil, at 17 he travelled to London where he secured his first job as a computer programmer with National Mutual Life.

At 23, he was made the company’s chief systems designer before he moved to the fledgling Hambro Life, where he was responsible for designing all of the company’s computer systems.

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He remained in the insurance industry for much of his career, becoming chief executive of Allied Dunbar in 1993 and of Zurich Financial Services in 1998. He represented the industry as chairman of the Association of British Insurers.

He became a director of BAT Industries, deputy chairman of Lloyds TSB and chairman of Bupa, Scottish Widows and Intrinsic Financial Services.

From 2012, he chaired the wealth management platform FNZ, helping to steer it from lowly beginnings to become a world leader in financial technology with $1.5 trillion in assets under administration.

He was a Freeman of the City of London, had an honorary doctorate in business administration and was chancellor of Carnegie College.

Lord Leitch founded the What Is More? Foundation and was a patron of charities such as the Stroke Association and Medical Aid Films Charity, reflecting his lifelong dedication to improving the lives of others.

His commitment to making a positive difference was recognised with the Prince of Wales Ambassador award for charity work.

In 2004, he was the author of the Leitch Review of Skills, commissioned by the then Chancellor and Dunfermline East MP Gordon Brown, to examine the UK’s optimal skills mix.

This aimed to maximise economic growth, productivity and social justice, which continues to shape cross-party policy in the field of skills development in the UK.

He was made a life peer and member of the House of Lords.

Shortly after he was ennobled, he was called by a journalist and asked what title he had chosen. ‘The Lord Leitch of Oakley’, he replied.

The journalist burst out laughing, saying that not many people dared to admit they came from a place like that, let alone include it in a title.

Leitch was quick to put the journalist in his place. Granted, he said, the coal mining village where he grew up was rough, tough and bleak, but it was a place of huge character and he was immensely proud to have spent his most formative years there.

Leitch never wavered from this view, and credited Oakley’s rugged, no-nonsense ethos for much of his success in later life.

He had three daughters with his first wife, Valerie Hodson, and a daughter and two sons with his second wife Noelle Kristin Dowd.

He passed away on Friday October 4.