HIE's most northerly Local Enterprise Company has appointed a new chairman and three new board members.

Brian Isbister was elected chairman of Shetland Enterprise at the first meeting of the new-look board yesterday (Tuesday 11th June). He takes over from Brian Anderson, board chairman for eight years.

Brian Isbister is the chief executive of the Shetland Fish Producers' Organisation Ltd, and has served as a director with Shetland Enterprise since 1994. Commenting on his new role he said: "I am delighted to have been appointed chairman of Shetland Enterprise. I am looking forward to the challenges ahead and to working with my fellow directors and Shetland Enterprise staff.

"As well as welcoming three new people to the board, I would also like to pay tribute to the commitment and enthusiasm of my predecessor Brian Anderson and two of our outgoing directors, Allan Wishart and Derek Leask."

Joining Mr Brian Isbister on the board of Shetland Enterprise is Jacqui Watt who is the executive director of community services at Shetland Islands Council. Ms Watt lives in Tingwall having moved to Shetland in 1999 from Edinburgh where she worked with the City of Edinburgh Council as head of housing and management.

Fellow new director, Kathleen Simpson is a business banking manager with the Bank of Scotland. Based in Lerwick, she is married with two grown-up children and has a wealth of experience in assessing small to medium sized business. Mrs Simpson moved to Shetland from Aberdeen in January 2000 and teaches computer evening classes at Anderson High School. 

The third new board member at Shetland Enterprise is James Smith from Sandwick. A native of the island, James runs his own marine surveying business, J.L.B. Surveys. The company was established in 1979 and has expanded steadily over the years to specialise in marine engineering and insurance survey work. James is a former councillor having been elected to Shetland Islands Council from 1987 to 1999 and now chairs the Shetland branch of the Federation of Small Businesses which has over 300 members.

Directors re-elected to the Shetland Enterprise board are Karen Eunson, Brian Hunter and Magnus Flaws. Councillor Drew Ratter is joining the board of Highlands and Islands Enterprise in October this year, and will be replaced on the board of Shetland Enterprise by Councillor Bill Manson.