Apple Boss Surprises Glasgow Store Staff

8 February 2017, 17:25 | Updated: 8 February 2017, 17:37

Tim Cook has dropped into the store in Glasgow; much to the surprise of staff.

The chief executive, who is in Scotland to collect an honorary degree from the University of Glasgow, popped into the Buchanan Street store and briefly spoke to staff.

Work stopped for around 15 minutes on Wednesday afternoon as staff and customers greeted Mr Cook and took photographs.

Before leaving, he was presented with two gifts; a tartan scarf and an embroidered picture.

He said he loved the scarf but asked; ''How are you supposed to fold this?''

The embroidered picture shows Mr Cook waving and the words: ''Welcome Tim.''

It also features saltire flags and the Loch Ness monster.

He joked: ''That's great. I recall looking for the Loch Ness monster in 1984.

''Everything is right but the colour of the hair.''

Mr Cook's being awarded a doctorate of science in a ceremony at the university later.

He'll then take part in a ''fireside chat'' and Q&A session with students and university staff.

Issues of privacy and surveillance could be topics of conversation, with students at the university having elected Edward Snowden as rector in 2014.

Despite being unable to travel to the UK, the US National Security Agency whistleblower won the vote after releasing details of phone and internet surveillance.

Mr Cook has taken a strong stance on user privacy and clashed with US intelligence agencies last year over the issue.

Tickets for the event sold out in under an hour.

A spokeswoman for the University of Glasgow says ''The event is not open to everyone, it is only open to staff and students.

''Bute Hall holds a few hundred people and it's now sold out.''

Since taking the helm of the company, Mr Cook's led the introduction of new products such as the iPhone 7, iPad Pro and Apple Watch.

He's also leading a company-wide effort to use 100% renewable energy at all Apple facilities.

In 2015, the 56 year old became an honorary patron of Trinity College Dublin's Philosophical Society and gave a talk to students.