30 Jun 2025
Glasgow Chamber is delighted to learn of the awarding of a CBE to John Watson OBE in the King’s Birthday Honours.
Known for his Watson Foundation and leadership of the John Watson & Company label printing firm, one of Scotland’s largest at the time of its multi-million pound sale to US firm Multi-Color Corporation in 2013, Dr Watson has since dedicated his time and resources to charity, following the model of Scottish-American industrialist and global philanthropist Andrew Carnegie.
This latest honour is thanks to his role as a “Businessman and Philanthropist for Services to Education and to Charity”.
John Watson and Company began life as a small Glasgow printer and in the last 50 years the firm expanded rapidly thanks to the entrepreneurial drive of Dr Watson and his team of print specialists who took the company to new heights - ultimately becoming the largest printing company in Scotland.
Since retirement has focused largely on philanthropic endeavour.
This latest honour comes just seven months after the University of Glasgow awarded an Honorary Doctorate to Doctor Watson for his “Charitable Work and Business Achievements.
His notable gifts in recent years have included sizeable financial donations to the homelessness charity Social Bite run by Josh Littlejohn MBE and the ongoing drive to restore the iconic River Clyde pleasure steamer TS Queen Mary. He has also supported the Scottish national memorial in Glasgow’s Pollok Park to those who lost their lives in the covid-19 pandemic.
He has also worked with Marie Curie for over 30 years as well as the Outward Bound Trust and Cancer Research UK.
Doctor Watson remains one of Scotland's foremost business voices who turned the eponymous Glasgow printing business John Watson and Company limited into a global name and became its Managing Director at just 28.
He was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Glasgow Chamber for supporting young businesses among its membership.
In 2006 Dr Watson received his OBE from Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth on the occasion of her 80th birthday for “Services to the Scottish Printing Industry and Charitable Purposes.”
Dr Watson said he was “Honoured and Elated” to be receiving a CBE having received the OBE 19 years ago.
