The ceremony was presided over by host Stephen Jardine and was a gala celebration of leaders who have shown exceptional commitment and acumen in guiding their organisations through the trials of the past year.

The prestigious event, sponsored by an array of esteemed institutions including Turcan Connell, Zero Waste Scotland, Wheatley Group, SCVO, Scottish Government, Insights, Prosperity and transACT Technology Solutions, announced winners across 12 national and 6 regional categories.

This year’s ceremony also saw the conferring of the Director of the Year 2023 Chair’s Award on Theresa Shearer FRSE, CEO at Enable. Ms Shearer was recognised for her enduring dedication to leadership and championing human rights-driven public services, securing significant policy change in Scotland and internationally.

Among the other notable winners were Carolyn Currie, CEO at Women’s Enterprise Scotland, who received the Director of the Year 2023 Award for Equality, Diversity & Inclusion.

Visit Inverness Loch Ness CEO, Michael Golding, earned the Sustainability award for his successful efforts in fostering sustainable tourism, despite the pressures of Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Large Business Director of the Year 2023 accolade was bestowed upon Jackie Kipps of Insights Learning & Development.

In the Third Sector category, Lindsay Fyffe-Jardine, CEO at Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home, took home the award.

Catherine McWilliam, Nations Director at IoD Scotland, said: “It has been a real privilege tonight to celebrate the leaders who are examples of the very best from Scotland’s boardrooms.

“Over the last few years, the Scottish business landscape has been tumultuous to say the least, and while we hope to see some stability ahead, there will always be challenges to face. An authentic, driven and focused leader is vital in navigating an organisation through difficult times, as well as motivating staff and driving strategic decisions.

“Our Director of the Year Awards are a fantastic way to recognise those who have demonstrated these attributes, and I hope this year’s winners offer inspiration and a source of pride for the business community across Scotland.”