Aberdeen lawyer Jennifer Young will provide a “direct connection to the north-east” for national business organisation, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI).
Ms Young, who is managing partner of law firm Ledingham Chalmers, was formally appointed in the chairmanship role of CBI Scotland at a dinner in Aberdeen this week.
As chair of the group, Ms Young joins the CBI’s Scotland director Tracy Black as the organisation’s first all-female leadership team.
The event at the Marcliffe Hotel featured a keynote speech from Deputy First Minister John Swinney.
Keith Anderson, the chief executive of Glasgow-based Scottish Power, also addressed the audience as he handed over the chairmanship to Ms Young after a two year stint in the role.
Ms Young takes up the chair in January.
Ms Black said: “For the team in London to have this direct connection to the north-east is going to be fantastic.”
She added: “The professional services sector, which includes the legal professional, accountancy, architecture practices and other specialists, accounts for a large proportion of businesses in Scotland, making a significant contribution to the economy.
“Jennifer brings wide experience of this sector as the managing partner of a growing legal firm.
“Her experiences working and living in the north-east, a region that will be an important part of Scotland’s economic recovery, will also be invaluable for CBI Scotland members.
“To have a company like Ledingham Chalmers that is growing and ambitious, led by a fantastic woman, is a great representative of what the CBI is all about.”
Who is Jennifer Young?
Ms Young is a construction lawyer, having been accredited by the Law Society of Scotland as a construction law specialist for around 20 years.
At Ledingham Chalmers, she oversees all aspects of the firm including leading and implementing strategy, internal and external communications, governance, client management and team management.
She is also on the board of north-east charity, Charlie House.
Ms Young, who has been in a vice chair role at the group in the last two years, said: “We are operating in particularly challenging times.
“That said, there remains ample potential to deliver a prosperous economic future for Scotland with the support of CBI Scotland in its role as a leading advocate for our talented and driven business community.”
She paid tribute to Mr Anderson who leaves the role after two years.
“I thank Keith for his work as chair as the business community emerged from the pandemic.
“Keith’s experiences as ScottishPower chief executive have been invaluable as Scotland and the rest of the UK look to renewables to help achieve their net-zero ambitions.”
She added: “It is with some trepidation then I am stepping into the role as Scottish chair. It shouldn’t be significant that it is an all female leadership team but it is noticeable. I am very much looking forward to the challenge of building on the strong platform we have.”
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