Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has appointed John Watt as the new director of its strengthening communities group.

Mr Watt (52) has been head of the development agency's innovative Community Land Unit for the past six years. 

He originally took charge of the strengthening communities group on a temporary basis in November 2002, when the previous director, Stuart Black, joined Inverness and Nairn Enterprise. 

A former pupil of Inverness Royal Academy, Mr Watt gained an MA (Hons) in Geography from the University of Aberdeen in 1973, then spent a year as a teacher in Malawi for Voluntary Service Overseas.

After a short spell as a planner and researcher with the then-Highlands and Islands Development Board (HIDB), in 1976 he moved to Ontario, Canada, where he gained a masters degree and a PhD at the University of Waterloo.

On his return to the UK in 1981, he re-joined the HIDB, firstly as community co-operative field officer, then social development officer. 

Following the creation of the Highlands and Islands Enterprise network in 1991, he was appointed senior economist.  Between 1993 and 1997 he was in charge of sectoral policy and corporate planning.

As director of strengthening communities, Mr Watt has responsibility for managing a 27-strong group, based in nine locations across the Highlands and Islands and focusing on community regeneration, social inclusion, the voluntary sector, arts and culture, transport, community land and community energy.

Announcing Mr Watt's appointment, HIE chief executive Sandy Cumming said:

"The HIE network is unique among UK development agencies in having a remit which stretches well beyond business development.

"Under the umbrella of strengthening communities we undertake a wide range of issues which are of vital importance to some of Scotland's most fragile areas, from transport policy to Gaelic development, arts activities and ownership of land and renewable energy production.

"The director is a key member of HIE's management group and I am certain that, in John Watt, we have appointed someone who is uniquely qualified for this challenging role."

Mr Watt is married with two children and lives in Inverness.