Dr Lena Wilson CBE the CEO of Scottish Enterprise for 8 years has announced to staff this morning that she is resigning.
Dr Wilson said: “It has been a real honour and privilege to work with so many talented people who want to make a positive difference for Scotland, but it is now time for me to embark on a fresh set of challenges.”
SE Chairman Bob Keiller said: “Lena has done an outstanding job as CEO, driving a much more international mindset across the whole organisation and overseeing record levels of innovation and growth among the companies SE works with as a result.
“I would like to thank her for her leadership and her service over many years.”
He added: “A plan to appoint a successor is being developed and details of this will be released in due course.”
Clearly this does not come as a surprise to The Scottish Government or the First Minister who Dr Wilson referred to in a speech in New York recently as ‘my boss’.
Our photograph shows Dr Wilson second from the right at the Marriott Starlab as she accompanied The First Minister on a recent visit to the US
Commenting on Dr Wilson’s resignation First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said:
“I would like to thank Lena for her leadership and dedicated service over many years, and for the significant difference she has made to Scottish Enterprise’s operations both in Scotland and on the international stage. She has been a committed leader for Scottish Enterprise, a champion for Scottish business and I wish her the best in her future endeavours.”
Economy Secretary Keith Brown said: “Lena Wilson has provided many valued years of service to Scottish Enterprise, to its predecessor organisations and to businesses across Scotland.
“Lena has worked tirelessly with partners both domestic and international to improve Scotland’s productivity and help build a globally competitive economy.
“Lena has been at the heart of work to give our businesses and individuals the right access and support to boost Scotland’s economy and deliver our ambition of Scotland ranking among the top quartile of OECD countries in terms of productivity, equality, wellbeing and sustainability. As we look ahead to developing a new approach to delivering continued economic growth and business support, Lena’s decision to move on at this point will enable a new Chief Executive to be appointed to take the organisation into a new phase of its work.
“I thank Lena for all her work and wish her well for the future.”
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
