This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Appointment of new Chair of Scottish Enterprise
05/11/2003
Enterprise Minister Jim Wallace today announced that the
Executive is widening the search for a new Chair for
Scottish Enterprise.
Answering a parliamentary question from Jamie Stone MSP,
the Deputy First Minister said:
"Scottish Enterprise plays a key role in enabling and
supporting economic development and Ministers recognise
that the Board and its Chair are central to its success.
The appointment of a new Chair was advertised in the
national press on 20 June. The Executive received 24
applications. These have been reviewed against the person
specification for the post by an Advisory Panel which
included a representative from my Department and an
Independent Assessor.
"The Panel has concluded that although there were some
applications which were of the required calibre there were
not enough to provide Ministers with a sufficiently wide
choice. In the light of their conclusion, and after
consultation with the Commissioner for Public Appointments,
we now wish to take steps to widen the search for
candidates and intend to engage the services of Executive
Search and Recruitment consultants. All existing
applicants are being advised of this decision.
"It is our intention that the new Chair will be
announced as soon as possible."
The current Chair Sir Ian Robinson will step down on 31
December 2003 when his term of appointment ends and the
Scottish Executive intends to appoint an interim Chair.
As all appointments to the Board of Scottish Enterprise
must comply with the Commissioner for Public Appointments'
Code of Practice, the process for widening the search and
the interim arrangements for the Chair have been agreed
with the Commissioner.