This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Chair appointed to VisitScotland
05/03/2007
The Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport, Patricia Ferguson today announced the new appointment through open competition of the Chair to VisitScotland.
The member is:
Peter Lederer - Current Chair of VisitScotland and Managing Director of the Gleneagles Hotel. Mr Lederer has an extremely strong proven record as the current Chair of VisitScotland and has an excellent understanding of the Scottish tourism industry. He is an excellent communicator with a strong drive and long term vision to lead Scotland's tourism industry to grow tourism revenues by 50 per cent by 2015.
This appointment will be for three years and will run from April 1, 2007 to March 31, 2010.
This post is part-time and attracts a remuneration of £23,064 for a time commitment of 1.5 - 2 days per week. Mr Lederer holds no other appointments.
VisitScotland is the Scottish Executive Non-Departmental Public Body responsible for promoting the interests of the tourism industry across Scotland. It has wide statutory powers to promote tourism and has a budget of around £60 million per annum. It is funded in part by the Scottish Executive, and the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport makes appointments to the Board which currently has seven members including the Chair.
VisitScotland has a strategic role as the public sector agency providing leadership and direction for the development of Scottish tourism to get the maximum economic benefit for Scotland. It exists to support the development of the tourism industry in Scotland and to market Scotland as a must visit must return destination. It shares the industry's ambition of 50% tourism revenue growth in real terms by 2015.
This Ministerial public appointment was made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland's Code of Practice.
All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees' political activity (if there is any to be declared) to be made public. Mr Lederer has not been politically active in the last five years.