HIE appoints new CEO

 
Scottish business development agency Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has appointed Charlotte Wright as its new Chief Executive Officer.

Wright, who is currently the agency’s Director of Business and Sector Development, has held the role of Interim Chief Executive since the end of August last year.

She joined HIE 20 years ago, and has since held several positions with HIE in Lochaber, rising to the position of local enterprise company Chief Executive.

Wright was appointed as the agency’s Regional Director for Highland in 2008, and as Director of Business and Sector development in 2010.

Wright said: “Our results for 2016-17 demonstrate a highly successful set of achievements in very challenging economic circumstances, and our new operating plan for the current year shows that we are as ambitious for every part of our region as we have ever been.

“I look forward to working with our many partners to ensure the Highlands and Islands continues to punch above its weight as a successful region and make a strong contribution to Scotland’s economic growth.”

HIE is Scottish government’s economic and community development agency for the north and west of Scotland.

The agency has a budget of £65.9 million in 2017-18, including £55.7 million from the Scottish government, to invest in developing businesses, economic sectors and communities across an area which covers half of Scotland, including all inhabited islands.

HIE also co-manages the Scottish Land Fund with Big Lottery Scotland, operates Community Broadband Scotland, and supports cutting edge research and development through a subsidiary company, Wave Energy Scotland.