Scottish Financial Enterprise (SFE) has announced that current deputy chair John McGuigan will take over as chair.
He replaces outgoing Philip Grant, whose three-year term ends in November, coinciding with his retirement from Lloyds Banking Group at the end of this year, as he approaches 40 years of service.
McGuigan spent nine years with Standard Life and its post-2018 parent company Phoenix Group, where he was group customer director. He also has international experience, having been managing director of sales and service at Telefonica in Munich.
Along with McGuigan’s appointment, the SFE board has appointed Sue Dawe, head of financial services for EY in Scotland, to the role of deputy chair. She has been a director on the SFE board since 2019.
In other recent changes, Rushad Abadan, general counsel at abrdn, joined the SFE board in June, while Judith Cruickshank, recently appointed managing director for commercial mid-market at Royal Bank of Scotland, is joining today, replacing Malcolm Buchanan, who has been appointed recently to a new role with NatWest Group in the North of England.
McGuigan said: “Last year SFE launched its new financial services strategy setting out our collective response on issues like the economic recovery, net zero, skills and inclusion and changing customer needs - these issues remain as important as ever in the face of huge domestic and global challenges, and my priority will be ensuring we remain on track delivering the strategy with our members and for the benefit of customers and communities across Scotland.
“We are an industry with a huge amount to offer, and which continues to grow and add strength to Scotland’s economy.”
SFE chief executive Sandy Begbie CBE said: “On behalf of SFE and our members, I’d like to say a huge thank you to Philip, whose contribution to SFE during his tenure has been invaluable, and has left us in a strong position as we look ahead to the future.
“While I’m sad to see him go, the continued strength, commitment and diversity of our board is a huge source of encouragement for us and our members, and I am excited to see what this next chapter brings.”
Grant added: “My time with SFE has been a huge privilege and I am grateful to have been able to work closely with so many great people and businesses from across the industry and our stakeholders in Scotland and further afield.
“I am particularly proud of the collaboration, alignment and influence that has come to mark SFE and the sector through the Covid period and that continues as Scotland faces into the cost of living challenges that lie ahead.
“Our membership has grown and we have implemented a clear, action-oriented strategy and plan for the development of the sector, all under the vision of having a positive, broader impact across Scotland in the years ahead - I wish them and everyone at SFE the very best for the future.”
SFE is the member body for Scotland’s financial and related professional services industry.
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