New chair appointed for Highlands and Islands Enterprise

Mr Dodds joined the board of HIE in 2014 and became Deputy Chair in 2018. He has also chaired the development agency’s risk and assurance committee for the past four years and represented HIE on the board of the University of the Highlands and Islands.

Having served as Acting Chair since 1 March 2020, he will now succeed Professor Lorne Crerar CBE, whose second term as Chair of HIE ended on 29 February.

Mr Dodds held senior positions with the Highland Council from 1991 and was the local authority’s chief executive from 2007 until 2013. He was awarded the CBE in 2014, in recognition of his services to local government in Scotland.

Originally from Kelso, he has a strong understanding of the needs and opportunities of remote and rural areas. He has been directly involved in significant public sector reform and is a firm believer in creating benefits from effective partnership working between the public, private and third/voluntary sectors.

Mr Dodds said: “Naturally, I am delighted and honoured to have been appointed as the chair of Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

“I have always recognised the important role the agency plays in supporting businesses and communities and developing local economies across this large and diverse region. My respect for HIE and its staff has only deepened since I became a board member in 2014.

“The coming years are going to be extremely challenging for Scotland’s economy as we deal with the impacts of COVID-19. That makes it more important than ever that HIE continues to be ambitious for every part of the Highlands and Islands and that we work with partners to strengthen our resilience and accelerate recovery.”

Mr Dodds has been appointed for a term of three years.

Scottish Government announcement is available here