Highlands and Islands Enterprise's new chief executive Stuart Black 'ready to serve' community
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Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has announced the appointment of Stuart Black as its next chief executive.
Mr Black, who will take up the post in January, has led the economic and community development agency’s Moray team since February 2020. Earlier this year, he also became HIE’s lead area manager, co-ordinating the work of eight local teams around the region.
Originally from Inverness, he is a graduate of the universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow, where he gained a doctorate in town and regional planning.
Mr Black began his career with the University of Aberdeen, before joining HIE in 1996, as head of economics. Over the next eight years he held several posts with the organisation including local enterprise company chief executive, director of strengthening communities and global connections director.
From 2008 to 2020, he was a senior team member at Highland Council, initially as director of planning and development and later as executive chief officer for transformation and economy.
Mr Black said: “I am delighted to have been appointed as HIE’s chief executive at this key time for our region and the whole country. It will be a privilege to be able to lead HIE and its committed team of colleagues based across the Highlands and Islands. I aim to ensure that HIE and our partners enable all parts of the Highlands and Islands to recover swiftly from the economic impacts of Covid, focusing on net zero, fair work and ensuring that no part of the region is left behind.
“We are here to serve the communities and businesses of this region and I am very much looking forward to taking on this new role.”
HIE board member Paddy Crerar was a member of the panel that appointed the new chief executive.
“The panel were unanimous in agreeing that Stuart Black has all the qualities we need to take HIE into the next phase of its development and strengthen our local economies across the Highlands,” he said.
Scotland’s economy secretary and Highland MSP Kate Forbes said: “I am delighted to welcome Stuart Black to his new post.
“He is already held in high esteem across communities and businesses because of his previous work in the Highlands. I have had the privilege of working with him in the past, and I look forward to strengthening our working relationship.”
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