Sir Martin Laing was educated at St Lawrence College, Ramsgate and Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where he read Estate Management. He retired as Chairman of John Laing plc in January 2002 He is a Non Executive Director of Eskmuir Properties Ltd, past member of the Board of Parsons Brinckerhoff Inc, and past member of the Corporate Finance Advisory Board of PricewaterhouseCoopers.
He is a former Chairman of British Overseas Trade Board and was Chairman of the Americas Advisers Group of Trade Partners UK.
Sir Martin has for many years played a leading role within the UK’s construction industry and has a keen interest in sustainable development and the environment. He was a member of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, and member of the Board of the Marine Stewardship Council and is a Trustee Emeritus of WWF-UK.
He is a past Master of the Worshipful Company of Paviors and a Deputy Lieutenant of Hertfordshire.
He now lives in Malta.