One of Scotland’s leading businesswomen, Lorna Jack, has been appointed as interim chairwoman of Highlands and Islands Airports (Hial).
It follows the departure of Mike Cantlay from the post, which he had held since July last year.
Ms Jack is currently chief executive of the Law Society of Scotland and a past regional president for the Americas at Scottish Development International, the overseas trade-focused arm of Scottish Enterprise (SE).
The Aberdeen University graduate and chartered accountant also had a spell as chief executive of SE Forth Valley, while her academic credentials include executive level business administration and management studies at Harvard in the US.
She has been on Hial’s board more than three years and is chairman of the Scottish Government-owned airport operator’s audit committee.
The overall chairman’s role became vacant after former VisitScotland chairman Mike Cantlay stepped down – just over a year after his appointment – to take up a board-leading role at the Scottish Funding Council.
Announcing Ms Jack’s appointment yesterday, Transport Scotland said the search for a permanent successor to Mr Cantlay was under way.
Transport Minister Humza Yousaf added: “Lorna has been an invaluable member of the Hial board since 2014, and she is the perfect candidate to step into this role and help guide the company over the coming months.”
Ms Jack said: “This is a very exciting, albeit challenging, opportunity. I’m delighted to have been appointed as interim chair at Hial, continuing the superb work of Mike Cantlay until a permanent chair can be appointed.
“Hial has gone from strength to strength, with increasing numbers of passengers and flights, under his (Mr Cantlay’s) and managing director Inglis Lyon’s leadership. We will work to maintain that success over this transition period.”