A FORMER director at Donald Trump’s Ayrshire golf resort has spoken for the first time about what he was like as a boss and meeting his family on the eve of the tycoon’s presidential inauguration.
Stephen Walker, who has just launched his new business, Lighthouse Consultancy, met Trump on a number of occasions and said he was true to his word about his commitment to Trump Turnberry and “put his money where his mouth was” after he bought it for £34 million in 2014.
The 55-year-old, from Edinburgh, said: “Irrespective of what you think of him as a politician or an individual, as an owner of an iconic Scottish golf resort Donald Trump has done an absolutely phenomenal job at Turnberry. What he has done to the golf course and hotel is amazing.
“I worked there before Trump arrived and what I saw was, quite simply, he put his money where his mouth was.
“Where other owners had come in and promised major investment – he delivered major investment. He was totally committed to the business and still is.”
Walker refused to be drawn on his own opinion about Trump’s as president of the US or as an individual but said he had a “high opinion” of him as an investor in Scottish business. He added: “He treated his staff really well. He was always very courteous and polite them when he was there. His family were absolutely charming to work with. I met Donald, his son Eric and daughter Ivanka.
“I met Donald probably three times and Eric about half a dozen times. Eric was more hands-on and he was effectively project manager. I hope Donald continues that investment in Scotland. I think he’s probably got more on his hands to deal with over the next four to eight years, he has come out and said he is devolving the management of his businesses to his family.”
Walker was sales and marketing director for 16 years at Turnberry and worked under three different owners.
Before he left in December 2015, he had worked for Trump for 18 months.
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