Scotland’s Rural College – SRUC – has appointed two new senior directors.
Colin MacEwan has been appointed to the new post of director of commercialisation and innovation, and Professor Jamie Newbold has been named as the college’s new academic director.
Mr MacEwan will join SRUC later this summer from his current role as director of the Norwich-based British Beet Research Organisation. In the past he served as managing director of Agrovista UK and chief executive officer of The Arable Group.
He will be responsible for leading the development and implementation of a growth-focused commercialisation strategy at the rural college.
SRUC principal and chief executive, Professor Wayne Powell, said: “As described in our new strategic vision document, a crucial element of expanding SRUC’s reach and impact is the need for us to be far more commercial and entrepreneurial, allowing us to maximise opportunities for sustainable growth. We have therefore introduced the new executive leadership role of director of commercialisation and innovation to lead in this important area.”
Meanwhile, incoming academic director Professor Jamie Newbold will join SRUC on September 1 from his current role as professor of animal science at Aberystwyth University’s Institute of Biological and Rural Sciences (IBERS) in Wales.
He will be tasked with integrating research and teaching at SRUC, growing research income and reinvigorating the college’s education portfolio.
Prof Powell said: “Jamie will bring world class knowledge and experience of the academic environment which will be essential to successfully uniting our research and education activities and ensuring that they are fully integrated with our commercial activities.”
