Fresh faces join Highland enterprise agency
A HOTELS boss and a former council chief are among four new appointees to the Board of Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
The Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth has announced that Paddy Crerar, Alistair Dodds, Giles Hamilton and Donald MacRae have joined the board.
Oban-born Paddy Crerar is chief executive of the Crerar Hotel Group, a privately owned hotel, leisure and hotel management group.
In addition, he has board level experience of community enterprise and co-operative companies and is an independent strategy consultant. He also owns and operates two agricultural enterprises.
Alistair Dodds, who is originally from Kelso, has held senior management positions in the Highland Council over a period of 18 years including chief executive for over six years until August 2013.
Giles Hamilton brings with him a wealth of experience having amassed 20 years board experience in the public, private and voluntary sectors. This has seen him work in the UK, US, Asia, Middle East and Australia, working with leading UK and overseas investors and facilitating inward investment to British companies.
His experience of economic development issues within the HIE region includes work with leading Forres-based medical devices company, Accunostics.
Professor Donald MacRae OBE was born and educated in the Highlands. He is currently Chief Economist, Lloyds Banking Group Scotland and is a former Director of TSB Bank plc, Scottish Homes and Scottish Enterprise.
He was a member of the committee of inquiry on crofting, a member of the Rural Development Council and the Land Reform Review Group and is currently an independent member of the skills committee between the Scottish Funding Council and Skills Development Scotland.
The appointments are for three years and run from April 2014 to March 2017.
The appointments are part-time with a time commitment of up to two days per month. The appointments attract a remuneration of £419 per day.
None of the appointees have had any political activity in the last five years.
