Benny Higgins, one of Scotland's most prominent business figures, has provided much food for thought on the future of Dumfries and Galloway, identifying sectors which offer good potential to help the region combat the challenges it faces, says business editor Ian McConnell.

It was fascinating to catch up with Benny Higgins again, this time for The Herald’s major series on The Future of Dumfries and Galloway published last week.

About a quarter of a century ago, I remember chatting to Mr Higgins about his part in Royal Bank of Scotland’s successful blockbuster takeover of NatWest.

In the years that followed, I spoke with him in his various banking executive roles, at Royal Bank and then HBOS, and then Tesco Bank.

He always offered a broader and thoughtful perspective, while also being sharply focused on his particular executive responsibilities at the time.

More recently, I have spoken with the now veteran of the business scene on broader economic issues.

Mr Higgins, one of Scotland's most prominent business figures, declared in an exclusive interview last summer that the Conservatives’ economic performance over the past 14 years had been “dreadful” and said that then prime minister Rishi Sunak was “out of his depth”.

He highlighted his belief that........

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