The Institute of Directors (IoD) has named Catherine McWilliam as the new director of nations in Scotland.
She has a decade of experience working in the Scottish business and third sectors, including roles responsible for corporate communications, membership management and professional development.
McWilliam joined the IoD team in October 2021 as a senior branch manager and has been appointed as director of nations following a competitive recruitment process, following the departure of Louise Macdonald OBE, who was appointed director general of the Scottish economy in April.
Prior to joining the IoD, she worked for six years at the Development Trusts Association Scotland, and before that was an account executive at Orbit Communications.
Jonathan Geldart, director general of the IoD, said: “Catherine brilliantly reflects the tenacity of leaders in Scotland, who have been working through one crisis after another over the last three years.
“Skills shortages, recruitment challenges and energy costs are all priorities for leaders right now, and Catherine is well placed to provide practical support and suggest innovative solutions to help assuage these concerns, or even simply to connect leaders with others experiencing the same issues.
“She will ensure we keep pace with industry, technology and a changing workforce, and build a more diverse membership portfolio which is truly relevant for the world we live in now.”
McWilliam commented: “I have been part of the IoD team for nearly a year, and I can see the positive impact that the organisation has on leaders who engage with our professional development and networking opportunities.
“Under my leadership, we will continue to provide this support, while also broadening the IoD’s appeal to an emerging band of business leaders who are facing challenges they’ve never dealt with before.”
The IoD was founded in 1903 and obtained a Royal Charter in 1906. It is a non-party political organisation with members including directors from across all industries, as well as voluntary and public sectors.
In Scotland it has seven branches in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Central, Fife and Tayside, South of Scotland, Aberdeen and the Highlands and Islands.
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