New Year sees new director for CBI Scotland

Tracy Black has officially taken up her role as the CBI’s new director for Scotland having shadowed the outgoing Hugh Aitken while deputy regional director as part of a planned succession process, the organisation has said.

Born and raised in Scotland, Ms Black takes the reins having enjoyed a distinguished and varied business career both in the UK and overseas.

CBI Scotland said “time spent in senior roles at leading global financial services institutions, as well as smaller business consultancy and entrepreneurial start-ups, will equip her well for the role”.

Looking ahead to CBI Scotland priorities for 2018, Tracy said: “I’m delighted to take over from Hugh at such an exciting time for CBI Scotland. Following a year of tremendous hard work delivering our landmark Pursuing Prosperity report, we now have a really solid platform to launch our campaigning efforts in 2018.

“Looking ahead we have two clear priorities for the Scottish economy: maintaining Scotland’s competitiveness and working with government and other partners to boost productivity – those are the only sure-fire ways to arrest the cycle of weak growth we now find ourselves in and to deliver the sustainable public services and increased living standards we all want to see.

“We have a hugely innovative and dynamic business community here in Scotland – all passionate about championing Scotland as a place to live, work and do business. We know that issues like Brexit present huge challenges to the Scottish economy but there is also a great deal to celebrate.

“I’m looking forward to working with some really inspiring business leaders to make sure that audiences across the UK and beyond recognise what Scotland can offer them now and in the years to come.”

The CBI said Mr Aitken will remain part of the CBI Scotland team into 2018 to lead a number of ongoing projects and to fulfil an ambassadorial role for the organisation.