The new chief executive of Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is to be Sandy Cumming. Mr Cumming, who has worked with the HIE Network since its inception, takes up the post immediately.

The appointment follows a month in which Mr Cumming has been HIE's acting chief executive.

Welcoming the announcement, HIE chairman Dr Jim Hunter said, "The board were unanimous and enthusiastic in their appointment of Sandy Cumming to this challenging position. We were particularly impressed by his clear thinking about new directions for the HIE Network.

"Sandy clearly has a radical agenda for change and places a great emphasis on HIE's ability to deliver economic and social development in the more fragile and remote communities, such as the Western Isles, which have not so far benefited to the same extent as other parts of the area."

Sandy Cumming said: "I believe Highlands and Islands Enterprise has achieved a great deal, but we should be judged, over the next ten years, on how we perform in our most remote and island communities.

"We must also seek to diversify the economy even further - identifying more modern knowledge-based industries. We have a real opportunity in the Highlands and Islands to benefit from the creativity and drive of our people, and building on the foundations laid already, could become the learning region of Scotland.

"All this will be achieved through a close partnership with the many other organisations working in the area."

Sandy Cumming starting working with HIE's predecessor the Highlands and Islands Development Board in 1976 as a livestock development officer, moving on to become the head of natural resources by 1990 and then a strategic planner, formulating policies for the forthcoming HIE.

With the inception of HIE Sandy spent two years as director of natural resources. He was then appointed chief executive of Ross and Cromarty Enterprise in 1993, where he remained until 1998. At this stage he returned to HIE to lead its growing businesses group.

Sandy Cumming's appointment as HIE chief executive has been approved by Scottish Executive Enterprise Minister Wendy Alexander.