The Institute of Directors (IoD) Scotland has announced Louise Macdonald will become the organisation's first female national director.
She will join in the summer from Young Scot, where she has worked for the last 20 years.
Macdonald has been its chief executive for the past 12 years, alongside board positions with the Scottish Parliament’s Scotland Futures Forum, the First Minister’s National Advisory Council on Women and Girls, and the Royal Society of Edinburgh’s Post Covid-19 Futures Commission.
She replaces Malcolm Cannon, who announced he was leaving the organisation in January, after less than 18 months in the role.
He took up a new post as managing director property services with estate agency and law firm Simpson & Marwick in Edinburgh.
Aidan O’Carroll, chairman of IoD Scotland, said: “Louise’s experience in leading a high-profile organisation over the last 12 years, in addition to her non-executive board roles, impressed us considerably and we believe that she has the right skills, connections and experiences to ensure that our members’ voices will be heard loud and clear.
“The IoD has been working tirelessly to represent those views with both Scottish and UK Governments, and Louise will be a force for meaningful and continuous engagement.”
Macdonald commented: “I am passionate about ensuring that the voices of Scottish business leaders are heard and that they take full advantage of the practical and meaningful support the IoD can provide to them as individuals.
"The IoD itself has done a considerable amount of work and learning to adapt to the new working world and I look forward to supporting that journey as I join the organisation later this year.”
Macdonald was named as the IoD Scotland Female Director of the Year in 2016 and went on to be awarded the IoD UK Third Sector Director of the Year award.
The IoD in Scotland has seven branches – Edinburgh, Glasgow, Central, Fife and Tayside, South of Scotland, Aberdeen and Highlands & Islands.
It is dedicated to encouraging entrepreneurial activity through good governance and responsible business practice.
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