After graduating at Edinburgh University in 1974 with a degree in Economics and Accountancy, Ian worked his way up to Chief Financial Officer with the transport and distribution firm his father started in the 1930s.

In 1984 he sold the business to Transport Development Group, and diversified into property development. He then established RD Investments, an Edinburgh-based property partnership with residential and industrial interests, but in 1997 he operated his business interests from his offshore base in Dubai.

In 1995, he was appointed an Associate Director of Glasgow Rangers Football Club, a position he held for a period of 15 years until 2010, during which period the club secured a world record 9 consecutive league titles.

In 2001 he set-up Caledonian Management (Dubai) Limited to take advantage of potential fund opportunities that were to arise in the emerging Middle Eastern property market. He operated the Caledonian fund management companies from offices within the prestigious Dubai International Financial Centre.

He was the driving force behind the expansion of the Caledonian Group and was responsible for brokering a unique Middle Eastern alliance with Al Mazaya Holdings who are listed on both Kuwait and Dubai financial markets. In 2008, he was appointed CEO of Mazaya Investments Ltd, a DFSA regulated fund management company, part of the 1 billion USD listed Al Mazaya Group.

In 2010 he returned to the UK to seek further business opportunities, and embarked on strategic real estate investment in the United States with the purchase of foreclosed bank stock.

In 2013, he was appointed chief financial officer of 2mee Ltd, an Intellectual Property company, operating in Europe, India, China and the United States.