Sutherland, Peter (1946– )

Irish lawyer, representative, administrator, and international business figure. Born in Dublin, he studied law there at University College, practised as a barrister 1969–81, and was attorney general of the Republic of Ireland 1981–85. As a European Union (EU) commissioner 1985–93, he made his mark in the competition portfolio, taking an active approach to breaking down cartels in such areas as the airline sector. He was appointed director general of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) organization in 1993, and its replacement body, the World Trade Association (WTO), until 1995. A passionate advocate of free trade, he played a significant role in the international agreement reducing trade barriers completed in December 1993. In 1995 he became chairman and managing director of Goldman Sachs International, the international arm of the major US investment bank.

Sutherland was non-executive chairman of Allied Irish Banks plc (AIB) 1989–93, Ireland's largest banking group, and now serves as non-executive director of BP/Amoco plc, having overseen the merger between the former British Petroleum (BP) and Amoco in 1988. He is also a board member of the multinational groups Investor, Asea Brown Boveri (ABB), and LM Ericcson.