Director of Football Dunfermline FC, Former Manager Inverness Thistle Livingston FC, Scottish Pundit, Speaker After-Dinner

Jim Leishman was born in Lochgelly in Fife and signed as a schoolboy for Dunfermline in 1968. Jim is currently Director of Football at Dunfermline FC. He has been a successful manager with a number of clubs including Inverness Thistle and most recently Livingston FC. He frequently appears on television and is sought after as both a TV and radio pundit.

Jim has not only played in a Scottish cup final at Hampden but has also taken a team there as a manager.

He is one of the most popular speakers on the after dinner speaking circuit in Scotland and his reputation as poet (Fifes Poet Laureate), wit and raconteur has kept him busy throughout the year not just in the football season. Jim is happy to host an evening or guest as the main speaker and he blends great sports stories with hilarious jokes and poems. He recently hosted the Scottish Wit of Wits Dinner 2004 in Edinburgh.

Always looking for challenges, Jim is also gaining an enviable reputation in the corporate market. He has a motivational and team building programme, Exceeding Expectations. Also an avid reader, Jim still finds time to enjoy a game of golf.

Jim Leishman has spoken at dinners alongside George McNeil, Willie Young, John Gahagan, Chick Young and Andy Cameron to name but a few.

Jim was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s 2007 Birthday Honours list.  He was awarded a Great Scot Award in 2010, and in the same year, was given a Lifetime Achievement award from Radio Forth.

Again, in 2010, he received a fellow of the college award from Carnegie College at Dunfermline Abbey.

In 2012 Jim stood for office and won Fife’s Dunfermline Central ward for Scottish Labour. Ten years later, he still holds the post.

Why Hire Jim Leishman MBE?