Four members of the Ross-shire community have recently taken their places on the board of directors at Ross and Cromarty Enterprise (RACE).

The appointments of George Tait, Andrew Muir, David Stephen and Ron Thomas will bring the board back up to full strength following the retirement of John Dunthorne, Maggie Symonds, Mike Pearson and Bill MacKenzie over the last year.

George Tait from Strathpeffer is known to many for his work at auctioneers Reith and Anderson in Dingwall and United Auctions in Inverness over the last 30 years. Although semi-retired, George is the Scottish Quality Beef and Lamb Association auction mart assessor for Scotland, treasurer of the Strathpeffer Community Council and director of the Strathpeffer Pavilion Association. He is also a member of the European funded LEADER II local action group.

Andrew Muir from Achiltibuie is a senior consultant with Mason Communications, a UK based telecommunications consultancy company. He has particular responsibility for all activities in the north of Scotland and works remotely from Mason's Edinburgh base. He has completed a range of consultancy projects including studies on telecommunication provision and telebusiness centre technology reviews.

David Stephen from Dingwall is director and main shareholder of MacMicro Ltd, a local company servicing and supplying computer equipment and software to organisations throughout the Highlands and Islands. He is also a director and main shareholder of companies in Orkney and Shetland and has been the Highland representative on the Federation of Small Businesses transport committee.

Ron Thomas from Culbokie has over 30 years experience in the scientific and chemical industry as well as teaching, research and working in small business. His high-tech research interests at his Alness based company Mupor Ltd have led to a number of patents. He deals regularly with medical, pharmaceutical and industrial companies as well as educational and safety outlets in many countries.

The new directors were appointed in accordance with the HIE Network's appointability through openness policy, which is designed to encourage wide community interest, nomination and self-nominations for these positions.

The policy requires local advertising and consultation to identify a wide field of candidates for board membership. Job descriptions and people specifications for the posts are produced and nominations panels, with independent local representation, decide on the final appointments.

Chairman of Ross and Cromarty Enterprise Sally Cartwright said: "We welcome these latest appointments which represent diverse business and community interests. Their expertise and experience will be of immense value to the work we do whether strengthening communities, developing skills or growing businesses."