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Donald Dewar announces appointments to Highlands and Islands Enterprise
12/10/1998
Scottish Secretary Donald Dewar, today announced the appointment of Dr Jim Hunter as the new Chairman of Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the appointment of Mrs Mary Campbell, Dr Neil Finlayson, Willie Roe, and Dr Alan Rutherford as Board Members. The re-appointment of Mrs Arlette Bannister was also announced.
Mr Dewar said:
"I am delighted that Dr Hunter has accepted my invitation to become the new Chairman of Highlands and Islands Enterprise. Highlands and Islands Enterprise and its network of local enterprise companies has an important role to play in the development of the area and I regard their success as being of the utmost importance.
"The Chairman of Highlands and Islands Enterprise must be a figure of experience and standing committed to the Highlands and Islands. The post was advertised openly in the press and attracted a wide range of high quality applicants. After careful scrutiny I concluded that Dr Hunter's experience and skills meant that he was the best candidate for the job. I am confident that he has the vision, strength and knowledge of the problems confronting the area to build upon the success of Highlands and Islands Enterprise and to deliver the Government's objectives.
"I am also delighted that Mary Campbell, Neil Finlayson, Willie Roe and Alan Rutherford have accepted my invitation to serve on the Board. They will bring a range of experience and skills that will complement those of existing members. The posts were advertised openly in the press and attracted applications from over 400 people interested in serving the Highlands and Islands. The interest is in itself gratifying and allowed me to select individuals of the highest calibre. I am also grateful to Arlette Bannister for accepting my invitation to serve for a further term. I firmly believe we have a Board that is capable of successfully guiding Highlands and Islands Enterprise into the 21st century."
BACKGROUND
1. Highlands and Islands Enterprise is a non departmental public body with the responsibility for the economic and social development of the Highlands and Islands.
2. Sir Fraser Morrison retired from the Chairmanship of Highlands and Islands Enterprise on 31 August 1998. The terms of office of Arlette Bannister, John Goodlad, John Harrison, Jan Nicholson, and Peter Timms expired on 30 September 1998. Arlette Bannister has been re-appointed for a further period of three years from 1 October 1998 to 30 September 2001.
3. Dr Hunter's appointment as Chairman is from 12 October 1998 to 31 August 2001, on a 1.5 days a week basis and currently attracts remuneration of £23,440 increasing to £23,784 with effect from 1 December 1998.
4. Dr Hunter is a self-employed writer, historian, broadcaster and commentator with a long standing interest in rural development. He is currently a member of the Scottish Tourist Board (STB), the North Areas Board of Scottish Natural Heritage and a Member of the Board of Directors of UHI Ltd. Dr Hunter is a past member of HIE and until recently was Chairman of Skye and Lochalsh Enterprise. He was a founding member of the Scottish Crofter's Union. Dr Hunter will resign from the Board of STB on appointment to HIE.
5. Appointment as a Board member is on two days a month basis and attracts remuneration of £8,206 a year rising to £8,327 with effect from 1 December 1998.
6. Mrs Arlette Bannister joined the Board of Highlands and Islands Enterprise on 1995. this will be her second period of office. She is a Director of Ackergill Tower Ltd.
7. Mary Campbell is a chartered accountant and Director, Corporate Finance with the British Linen Bank. Although now living and working in Edinburgh, Mrs Campbell has family connections with Barra and was educated in Lochaber. She previously worked for Ernst Whinney in Inverness and was seconded to the HIDB. She was subsequently with the Noble Group, latterly as Chief Executive of Noble Strategic Advisors Limited. Mrs Campbell continues to study Gaelic, in which she already holds a qualification.
8. Neil Finlayson is a research scientist for British Telecom and works from his home at Ness in Lewis. He is a native Gaelic speaker and is directly involved in local rural development. He has recently become a Director of Western Isles Enterprise..
9. Willie Roe is a self employed economic and learning consultant who lives in Kyle of Lochalsh. He has also worked across the UK and overseas. Mr Roe has been closely involved in developing the New Deal training programme in Scotland for the Employment Service, as well as working in support of the University of the Highlands and Islands Project team.
10. Alan Rutherford was the Scotch Whisky Production Director at United Distillers and Vintners until June of this year. Most of his career was spent on the production side of the brewing industry and then the whisky industry when he gained some knowledge of the Highlands and Islands. He is a founder member of the Islay Development Company and is Chairman of the Airborne Initiative (Scotland) Limited which runs residential courses for young offenders. He is a past president of the Malt Distillers Association.
11. These appointments were made following Guidance issued by Sir Len Peach the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Over 450 candidates were considered from a variety of sources including responses to an advertisement in the press and nominations by individuals and organisations
12. Dr Finlayson declared that he stood as a Labour Party candidate for local elections in Suffolk in 1993. None of the other appointments declared any political activity.
News Release: 2065/98
12 October, 1998