Six top jobs axed in Visitscotland review

Visitscotland, formerly the Scottish Tourist Board, has eliminated six of its senior executive posts.

The move follows the findings of a management review by PricewaterhouseCoopers last year (Caterer, 16 November 2000, page 4).

The review attacked the organisation's leadership, which led to the resignation of chief executive Tom Buncle.

Five directors are due to leave within the month. They are finance director Lynne Hollis, international marketing director Katie Rutherford, director of visitor services Tim Oliphant, director of tourism futures Lorna Easton, and IT director Anne Bell.

Graham Birse, director of external communications, leaves in two months' time.

All six declined jobs in Visitscotland's slimmed-down structure.

Interim chief executive Peter McKinlay said: "The six directors decided not to pursue alternative opportunities available to them within the organisation."

Visitscotland has made three appointments. Marketing director Malcolm Roughead joined three weeks ago, corporate services director Hugh Hall started this week, and industry services director William Macleod starts on 1 September. A permanent chief executive is expected to be named soon.

The Scottish Parliament's shadow minister for enterprise and lifelong learning, Kenny MacAskill MSP, said: "July and August are critical months for Scottish tourism, but the organisation supposedly marketing it is in another mess.

"When they should be selling Scotland abroad, they are shuffling chairs in Edinburgh."

by Ben Walker