Leading north businessman James Campbell is poised to be the next chairman at Inverness Airport Business Park (IABP).
Mr Campbell, a partner and former chairman at Scottish accountancy firm Johnston Carmichael (JC), is due to take up the three-year post on June 1.
He is taking over from David Hastings, who stepped down last October.
Originally from Forres, Mr Campbell will support IABP business development manager Rory Black and the business park board in trying to secure further development of the 620-acre site.
Although his will no longer be a partner at Aberdeen-based JC, he will continue to work for the firm as a part-time consultant.
IABP is expected to benefit from his extensive experience across a range of industry sectors.
This includes a past spell as a director of Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) in Moray, while he is currently chairman of the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival.
Mr Campbell said: “As someone who has spent all of my working life in the north, I am delighted to be taking on this new role.
“I am passionate about this part of the world and really determined to see Inverness and the Highlands move forward.
“This is an exciting time for the area, with the opening of the new Inverness College UHI campus, the Inverness City Deal, the Tornagrain new town development and the expansion of Inverness Airport.
“I am very excited to be part of a wider city team working to transform employment and investment opportunities.
“I want to play my part in developing the area so that we create an environment where our young people come back to the Highlands to live and work, and to raise their families.”
Inglis Lyon, managing director of Highlands and Islands Airports (Hial), one of the IABP partners, said: “James is a well-respected and well-connected business figure in the north.
“He joins IABP at an important time, with two major tenants now on site, important new infrastructure in place and discussions to secure further business investment gathering momentum.”
The new chairman’s immediate priorities include securing a new airport hotel. The site currently has planning consent in principle for a 100-bed hotel, with scope for further expansion.
Mr Campbell believes there is potential to attract more inward investors and encourage more local businesses to relocate to the park from Inverness city centre, nine miles away, where there are fewer development opportunities.
IABP is a joint venture between Hial, Moray Estates and HIE, with the support of Highland Council.
The business park currently has two anchor tenants – Bond Air Services and Bristow Helicopters.
