NEW CHAIRMAN FOR LOCHABER ENTERPRISE

Drew McFarlane Slack from Ballachulish will take up the reins as chairman of Lochaber Enterprise when the current post-holder Andy Rodgers joins the board of Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) in April. Drew joined the LEC board in 1996 and has been vice chairman for the last three and a half years.

In addition to being a Lochaber Enterprise board member Mr McFarlane Slack has, since 1996 chaired the Kinlochleven Land Development Trust, which was set up following the run-down and subsequent closure of the Kinlochleven Aluminium Smelter. The Trust has overseen millions of pounds of new investment in services, land renewal and employment creation projects.

Mr McFarlane Slack is also a director of Highland Careers Service and a member of the area management committee of the Highlands of Scotland Tourist Board and Lochaber Housing Association.  As the councillor for the Glencoe ward of the Highland Council, Mr McFarlane Slack received an MBE last year for his services to the community. He is the Lochaber area planning committee chairman and is a member of several other Highland Council committees including Development, Europe and Tourism, Budget and Resources. He also chairs the Highland and Islands Joint Fire Board.

Chief executive of Lochaber Enterprise Jackie Wright said: "Drew is an excellent ambassador for Lochaber and I look forward to working alongside him in the future to build on what we have recently achieved in Lochaber. "Many challenges still remain for Lochaber Enterprise and Drew's drive and enthusiasm will prove valuable assets if we are to meet these in the future.

"I would also like to pay tribute to the work which Andy Rodgers has contributed during the past five and a half years, both as a board member and chairman of Lochaber Enterprise. We wish him well in his wider remit as a HIE board member."

Drew McFarlane Slack said: "I look forward to this new challenge and hope that I can make a significant contribution to the work of Lochaber Enterprise. Whilst unemployment is at its lowest in Lochaber for decades, we cannot be complacent. Communities in Ardnamurchan and Kinlochleven continue to need our help and support to ease problems of peripherality and high unemployment which still exist in these areas.

"Agriculture and tourism have also gone through tremendous changes over the past year and Lochaber Enterprise must work closely with these sectors to ensure they emerge stronger and more resilient than ever before."

In addition to appointing a new chairman, Lochaber Enterprise are currently seeking to appoint new directors to the board and adverts are being placed in local newspapers over the next two weeks.

Applications will be accepted from interested members of the Lochaber community who, by virtue of their personal or business/community experience can add value to the LEC activities. The board is non-executive and provides Lochaber Enterprise with strategic advice and guidance as well as making recommendations on larger financial investments.