Thames Sunset Cruise Marks New Chapter for Scottish Business Network

Scottish Business Network gathered more than 100 business leaders, entrepreneurs, and international partners for an evening cruise along the River Thames on Thursday, 23 July. Setting sail from Festival Pier as the sun set over London, the landmark gathering provided a vibrant platform to celebrate ten years of global connectivity while officially announcing Scott Dalgleish as SBN's new Chief Executive Officer.

A Decade of Vision and New Leadership

Passing iconic landmarks of Central London, the evening carried special significance as SBN marks its tenth anniversary. SBN Chair Russell Dalgleish reflected on the growth of the network since its inception in 2016 alongside co-founder Christine Esson, contrasting early London gatherings with the dynamic, international community assembled on deck.

A central highlight of the night was the formal introduction of Scott Dalgleish as Chief Executive. Stepping into the role after being involved during SBN's founding a decade ago, Scott outlined an ambitious operational strategy focused on mobilising Scotland’s global diaspora into an active economic asset. The strategy aims to build direct, frictionless corridors into key growth hubs worldwide, ensuring Scottish founders can scale with confidence and dedicated backing. Russell Dalgleish will continue as Chair of SBN, focusing on strategic governance and board oversight to support the executive team in executing these plans.

The cruise offered a networking event away from the typical office setting and saw partners bring their members together on the night. This included Alex Nedelea, founder of LPV and Stephen Kinder of London Scottish Rugby. By gathering leaders from different backgrounds into a single shared space, the cruise demonstrated how commercial opportunities develop naturally through meaningful conversations rather than transactional card exchanges.

Building Cross Sector International Links

Reflecting SBN’s philosophy, the audience represented a diverse array of industries, including technology, finance, public policy, sports, academia, and the creative arts. The broad international representation on board underscored Scotland’s expanding global commercial footprint, with members of Polish Business Link and Business Network Albania sharing stories about the burgeoning ties between their diasporas and Scotland.

By stepping away from formal boardrooms, guests engaged in candid discussions surrounding global scaling, sub-national trade corridors, and collaborative enterprise.

As the vessel docked back at Festival Pier to conclude the first half of 2026, the high energy across the deck reflected a shared appetite for coming together again. SBN will now take a brief summer pause before returning in September with its Autumn Series of events.

In the coming weeks, further announcements will outline new partnership frameworks and global projects as SBN continues its work to empower Scottish enterprise across international markets.