The Scottish Council for Development and Industry (SCDI) has appointed one of Scotland’s leading public policy professionals as its new chief executive. Ross Martin will join the organisation in October from the Centre for Scottish Public Policy (CSPP), where he is currently policy director.
Bill Drummond
Chair, SCDI
Bill Drummond, who chairs the SCDI, said he was “pleased to announce Ross Martin’s appointment to SCDI. Ross’s track record in the field of Scottish public policy is outstanding, and the Board was especially impressed by his sharp focus on public service reform and the important role of city regions and towns in Scotland’s future economic success. Scotland faces many challenges in the months ahead, and we are convinced that Ross will provide energetic and dynamic leadership to SCDI, building substantially on our past initiatives and putting us firmly at the heart of economic policy making in the future. His collaborative approach and proven ability to bring people together resonates with SCDI’s objective of finding common ground in the pursuit of economic success for Scotland.”
Ross Martin who takes up his post at the SCDI next month
Ross Martin joined CSPP in 2004, from Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, where he was Director of the Scottish Forum for Modern Government. A physics graduate and teacher from Wester Hailes in Edinburgh, Ross enjoyed an early career in local government politics, including a spell as Chair of Lothian and Borders Police Board and West Lothian Council’s education convenor. He is also the joint owner of TPS, a planning consultancy, from which he will step down.
Mr Martin described his new post as “one of the most exciting jobs in Scotland, at arguably the most exciting time. I look forward to engaging with our members, across the board, at the earliest opportunity, to better understand how we can collectively shape an economy from which all of Scotland benefits.”
Ross Martin replaces Dr Lesley Sawers, who left SCDI in June to become viceprincipal, business development, at Glasgow Caledonian University. He is the
organisation’s 8th chief executive.