THE SCOTTISH Government has launched a recruitment campaign to appoint a new Chair for the Board of Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), the region’s economic and community development agency.
Applications are now open via the public appointments website, with a closing date of 7 July.
The recruitment follows the announcement earlier this year that current Chair Alistair Dodds CBE will step down this summer. Mr Dodds, who has served on HIE’s Board for 11 years — including the last five as Chair — will leave the role at the end of July. His successor is expected to
take up the post by October. Reflecting on his tenure, Mr Dodds said: “It has been an immense privilege to serve on the Board, and I am grateful for the opportunity to work alongside the Scottish Government, businesses, communities, local authorities, and partners across the public,
private, and third sectors. “Our economy and communities are in a very positive place, with huge potential for unprecedented investment and job creation. I’m confident that HIE will continue to perform strongly and deliver meaningful outcomes for Scotland. Over the next 15 years and beyond, the
Highlands and Islands are set to play a major role in strengthening the national economy.”
HIE operates across a vast region that includes over half of Scotland’s land mass, from Shetland in the north to the southern edge of Argyll, encompassing nearly 100 inhabited islands.
The HIE Board is responsible for guiding the organisation’s strategic direction, ensuring it meets the objectives set by Scottish Ministers, and making efficient use of public resources. It reports directly to the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Gaelic.
