CBI Scotland has chosen Gavin Newlands to chair its Infrastructure Working Group, as businesses prioritise removing barriers to economic growth following the Scottish Parliament election.

Newlands, Executive Director of Corporate Affairs at AGS Airports—which owns Glasgow, Aberdeen and Southampton airports—will lead member firms in working with policymakers to accelerate major infrastructure delivery and reduce planning delays.

The appointment follows the First Minister's keynote at the CBI Scotland Annual Lunch in May. In John Swinney's first public address since his re-appointment as First Minister, he told 300 business leaders that his government will prioritise planning reform to drive economic growth.

Michelle Ferguson OBE, Director, CBI Scotland, said: "Gavin's experience and strategic acumen as a senior leader with responsibility for three of the UK's major international airports makes him the perfect person to build on the group's important work. He will make a major contribution in driving forward our work to remove the barriers to infrastructure, and other, projects that will drive Scotland's economy over the next decade. We are pressing the new Scottish Government to use every lever at its disposal – including reform of planning - to boost productivity and unlock vital investment.

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"Delivering faster and more effectively on grid upgrades, transport, housing, planning and strategic energy projects is essential to unlocking private investment and turning Scotland's potential into delivery of economic growth. Over the coming weeks and months our members will work closely with Gavin in a policy area that is of utmost importance to Scotland's growth story."

Gavin Newlands, Chair of the CBI Scotland Infrastructure Working Group, said: "Scotland's infrastructure is critical to the country's competitiveness, and I am proud to be taking on this role at such an important time. Planning reform will be an early focus – the system should be a national growth enabler, not a barrier to investment. Every month of crucial projects being held up costs jobs and investment that Scotland cannot afford. I look forward to working with Michelle, the CBI Scotland team, and the working group, to make the case for the urgent reform that businesses need."

Aged 46, Newlands became AGS Airports' Executive Director of Corporate Affairs in 2026, having joined in October 2024 to lead its governmental, parliamentary and sectoral engagement. He previously spent nine years as the SNP MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, which includes Glasgow Airport, following a career in business management. A former transport spokesperson, he played a central role in parliamentary scrutiny of UK aviation, rail and maritime policy and was a leading advocate for transport decarbonisation.

His Westminster work focused on aviation decarbonisation, including sustainable aviation fuel, airspace modernisation and the development of zero-emission flight. He also held spokesperson roles for Northern Ireland, Wales and sport, served on the Justice and Transport Select Committees, contributed to legislative debate and chaired several all-party parliamentary groups. Newlands also serves on the CBI Scotland and Glasgow Chamber of Commerce councils.

As of July 2026, the CBI Scotland Infrastructure Working Group's membership includes: Weber Shandwick, BT Openreach, Centrica, Nabarro and Olswang, Scottish Leather Group, XLCC, Avison Young, Homes for Scotland, AtkinsRealis, Prestwick AeroSystems, AGS Airports, Brockwell Energy, Shell, Addleshaw Goddard, Forth Ports, SSE, BAE Systems, NatWest Group, KPMG, Diageo, Drax Group, PwC, ScottishPower, Scottish Renewables, Accenture and Peak International Group.