New appointments have been made to Highlands & Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL).

Stewart Stevenson, Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change today announced the appointment of Mr Grenville S Johnston as interim Chair of HIAL and the re-appointment of two of the company's Board members, Mrs Linn (Linda) Phipps and Dr Charles A (Alistair) Goodlad.

Mr Stevenson said: "Mr Johnston's long association with and knowledge of HIAL and the aviation sector provides a strong platform on which the company can build following the recent departure of David Sutherland. I am very grateful to Mr Johnston for his willingness to step into this important role.

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"I would also like to thank Mrs Phipps and Dr Goodlad for the constructive and substantial contribution they have made to the work of HIAL over the last three years as members of the Board."

The interim Chair appointment is for eight months, commencing on February 1, 2009 and ending on September 30, 2009 pending the outcome of a full appointment process for the post of Chair. The post is part-time and attracts remuneration, commensurate with a time commitment of six days per month, of £21,451 per annum.

The Non-Executive Director re-appointments will be for three years and will run from March 1, 2009 to February 29, 2012. Mrs Phipps and Dr Goodlad were first appointed from March 1, 2006. The posts are part-time and attract a remuneration of £8,848 (this includes a role in relation to the HIAL Pension Fund) and £7,135 respectively for a time commitment of two days per month.

The appointment of an interim Chair has been necessary because of the intimation by the current Chair, David Sutherland, of a wish to stand down from January 31, 2009 due to time commitments associated with his business interests.

A full public appointment round under the terms of the Code of the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland will be conducted to identify a permanent successor to Mr Sutherland.

(GK/JM)