This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Chair of Commonwealth Games Group
09/11/2004
First Minister Jack McConnell today announced David
Mackay, former Group Chief Executive of John Menzies, as
the independent chair of the group that will assess the
feasibility of Scottish bid for the Commonwealth Games in
2014.
The appointment follows the decision by the Commonwealth
Games Council for Scotland to award preferred city status
to Glasgow.
The group will now assess a range of factors before
making a recommendation to Ministers as to whether a
Glasgow bid would be viable, winnable and would leave a
lasting legacy for the country.
It is only after this group reports that a decision will
be made by the Scottish government on whether or not to
support a bid for the 2014 Games.
The First Minister said:
"I am delighted that David Mackay has accepted my
invitation to chair the feasibility group. David's
professionalism and enthusiasm will ensure that if we do
support this bid, we are supporting it for the right
reasons.
"Scotland is a great country and a great venue for world
class events. The Open Golf, the Edinburgh Festivals, and
last year's MTV awards show we can put on a show unrivalled
by anyone else.
"The question that we now face is whether a bid by
Glasgow for the Commonwealth Games is viable, winnable, and
will leave a lasting legacy for our country. It is a
question that must be answered before we proceed with a
bid.
"The more major events that we can bring to our country,
the more our international profile will be raised. The
Commonwealth Games would be a fantastic occasion for our
country and a showcase for everything that Glasgow and
Scotland has to offer. If we think that we can win it, then
we are absolutely right to go for it."
Charlie Gordon, Leader of Glasgow City Council,
said:
"I very much welcome David MacKay's appointment.
Scotland is a great wee country, and Glasgow is a great
city.
We have a draft bid, which will involve staging a great
games in 2014, but one which will also boost Glasgow's
regeneration and leave a lasting legacy of amenities for
Glasgow's communities."
David Williams, chief executive of EventScotland,
said:
"EventScotland has consistently advocated that the
economic and tourism benefits of hosting major
international events impact not only the town, city or
region where an event takes place, but by the country as a
whole.
EventScotland's vision is for Scotland to become one of
the world's foremost event destinations by 2015, driving
international tourism and positioning the country on the
global stage using world class events as the catalyst.
"The global events industry has become fiercely
competitive as more and more cities and countries recognise
the benefits of hosting major events.
"It is therefore extremely important that the
feasibility study is undertaken to ensure that any bid made
by Scotland to host the Commonwealth Games in 2014 is done
so with maximum support and effectiveness.
"EventScotland welcomes the news of David MacKay's
appointment and is looking forward to playing a lead role
in the feasibility study."
David Mackay was born the son of a policeman in St
Andrews on May 20, 1943. After a short spell in banking, he
spent three years with a passenger transport company and
then joined John Menzies in Edinburgh in 1964.
Appointed Managing Director - Wholesale in September
1984, during which time he also sat on the Menzies Retail
Division Board and had Board responsibility for Jones
Yarrell, Total Home Entertainment and Transport Services
Division/Air Menzies International.
Appointed Group Managing Director effective from January
1, 1997, and on the retirement of Executive Chairman John
Menzies appointed Group Chief Executive in September
1997.
David Mackay is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of
Transport and Logistics (1993), as well as a Companion of
the Institute of Management (1998).
He became President of NewstrAid, the Newsvendors'
Benevolent Institution charity in 1998. On retiral from
John Menzies in May 2003, invited to stay on as a lifetime
Vice President.
In July 2003 he was appointed as Chairman of the
Scottish Rugby Executive Board.
Since August 2004 he has been a member of the
Executive's Sounding Board with responsibility for
reporting on Efficient Government.
The feasibility group's membership will be made up of
representatives from the Executive, EventScotland,
sportscotland, CGCS and Glasgow City Council.
It is anticipated that the group will report to
Ministers around six months after they commence their
work.