Western Isle Enterprise (WIE) has a new chairman following the appointment of its former chairman Duncan MacInnes to the board of Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).

Murdo MacLennan (49) is an independent media consultant and has served on the WIE board since May 1997. He also runs his own broadcast services company and is director of the Hebridean Celtic Festival.

Commenting on his appointment Mr MacLennan said: "I should like to pay tribute to the sterling service given by Duncan MacInnes during his time with WIE and wish him every success with HIE. It is a particularly challenging time for the Western Isles economy and I look forward to working with other board members to make a real difference."

Three new board members join Mr MacLennan on the WIE board. Donald MacDonald from Borve on Lewis is associate director business banking at the Bank of Scotland in Stornoway and Donald Morrison is the Western Isles regional manager with Marine Harvest (Scotland) Ltd. The final member of the new trio is Murdo MacDonald, manager at the QinetiQ (formerly DERA) Hebrides Range.

As well as Duncan MacInnes's departure from the WIE board, Roddy Cunningham, a partner in the chartered accountancy firm Mann Judd Gordon, has resigned. Mr Cunningham has been on the WIE board since the outset of the Local Enterprise Company Network in April 1991 and prior to that, sat on the local WIE working group.

Mr MacLennan said: "I would especially like to convey my thanks and good wishes to Roddy Cunningham who is leaving the WIE board after 10 years of dedicated service. His influence and experience over that decade has been of tremendous value to the work of WIE in the Western Isles."