Hugh Grant
Hugh Grant is the chairman, president and chief executive officer of Monsanto Company, currently leading worldwide business operations. Grant was previously the managing director of all Monsanto business units in Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand and before that, he led the marketing, sales and technology organizations in Europe and North America.[1]
He holds a BS (Honours) degree in molecular biology and agricultural zoology from Glasgow University, an MS degree from Edinburgh University and an MBA from the International Management Centre in Buckingham[2].
Indonesia
In January 2005 it transpired that Hugh Grant, who had been acting as an adviser to Scottish Enterprise since 2002, had been involved in a corruption scandal in Indonesia.[3] Hugh Grant was in charge of Monsanto's Asia Pacific division at the time when Monsanto was bribing Indonesian officials.[4] When challenged about this by Member of the Scottish Parliament (Green Party) Robin Harper in the Scottish Parliament, Jack McConnell, the then First Minister stated:
- Anything that Hugh Grant is questioned on in his dealings with that company in the past is a matter for him to answer for in relation to any suggestions that have been made. As is the case with the other members of our international advisory board, Hugh Grant gives his time voluntarily, as an expatriate Scot who cares deeply about this country, to help Scottish companies grow their global businesses and markets. He does that very effectively and I welcome his intervention and assistance.[5]
Between 1997-2002, around $700,000 (around £400,000)had been given in illegal payments to Indonesian Government officials. During 1997-1998, Mr Grant was managing director of Monsanto's Asia Pacific division and was promoted to having global responsibility for agriculture.[6].
In January 2005 the company agreed to pay fines totalling $1.5 million (£803,000) for breaking anti-corruption laws. It was accused of bribing more than 140 Indonesian officials between 1997 and 2002.
The company agreed to pay fines totaling over GBP800,000 for breaking US anti-corruption laws. This followed a US Department of Justice investigation of Monsanto, accused of bribing more than 140 Indonesian officials and members of their families between 1997 and 2002. In 2002, one senior civil servant was paid $50,000 in relation to the planting of GM crops. Monsanto has also agreed to retain an independent consultant for three years to check there are no further breaches of the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.[7]
Affiliations
- United Way of St Louis Board of Governors
- International Policy Council on Agriculture, Food and Trade Board of Governors
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center Board of Trustees
- Washington University in St. Louis Board of Trustees
- Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) Board Member
- CropLife International Member Advisory Group
- Civic Progress Member
- Scottish Enterprise International Advisory Board Member 2004-7[8].
References
- ↑ "Hugh Grant", Monsanto website, accessed March 17 2009
- ↑ Scottish Development International, International Advisory Board, 2007
- ↑ Official Report 13 January 2005, Scottish Parliament website, accessed March 17 2009
- ↑ Official Report 13 January 2005, Scottish Parliament website, accessed March 17 2009
- ↑ Official Report 13 January 2005, Scottish Parliament website, accessed March 17 2009
- ↑ Andrew Denholm, Greens call for Monsanto chief to quit advisory role over bribes, news.scotsman.com, 14 January 2005, accessed March 17 2009
- ↑ Angus Macleod,"Support for Scotland adviser in bribes row", The Times, 14 January 2005, accessed 17 March 2009
- ↑ "Hugh Grant", Monsanto website, accessed March 17 2009
