Ian MacKechnie
Amscot Financial Founder & CEO
Ian MacKechnie carries more than five decades of entrepreneurial experience. At only 16, MacKechnie began working at his father’s bakery in Victoria, British Columbia. It was there that he started his career into the world of business. He drew on this experience as a management trainee at an Associated British Foods bakery plant in his native Scotland, later forming his own wholesale bakery with his father and brother in 1963. Ian MacKechnie assumed the role of CEO of MacKechnie Rolls in 1970 and helped grow the business into a successful commercial baked goods supplier which served more than 1,300 Scottish grocery stores.
Upon selling MacKechnie Rolls to United Biscuits, PLC in 1975, MacKechnie set out to work on developing a new brand of in-store bakeries, Oliver’s Bakery and Coffee Shop. For 15 years, he served as the Chairman and CEO of Oliver’s Bakery and Coffee Shop, spearheading the development of 34 cafes in major shopping centers throughout Scotland, England, and Wales. He eventually sold Oliver’s Bakery to Ladbroke Group, PLC in 1985.
The Story of Amscot (Video)
In 1986, Ian MacKechnie relocated to Tampa, Florida, forming and serving as owner and president of Lincoln Baking Company. As a new opportunity presented itself, MacKechnie ultimately switched his professional and business focus to the financial services sector. He established Amscot Financial, a non-bank consumer financial services company, in 1989. Amscot Financial presently serves more than 3 million customers at over 228 locations across the State of Florida. The company offers a wide range of financial services, including bill payment, prepaid access card, wire transfers, cash advances, check cashing services, money orders, ATM machines, fax and notary services.
In addition to leading Amscot, MacKechnie finds time to remain active in his professional sphere, serving on the boards of the Community Financial Services Association of America, Financial Service Centers of America, and Financial Service Centers of Florida. MacKechnie further contributes to his community through directing his company to financially support not-for profits and charitable organizations in every community where Amscot operates its branch locations. Some of Amscot’s community support and outreach efforts include partnering with and contributing to Consortium of Florida Education Foundations (CFEF), Metropolitan Ministries, Children Rescue Network and United Way. MacKechnie is a past Board trustee of both the University of Tampa and Tampa Museum of Art.
Tampa Bay Business Journal Interview with Ian MacKechnie (Video)
Ian MacKechnie: 2015 Tampa Bay Business Journal's Most Searched Person