Government Reappoints HIE Board Members (UK)

Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism Fergus Ewing today announced the re-appointment of Craig Spence and Steven Thomson to the board of Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is the Scottish Government’s economic development agency for an area covering more than half of Scotland’s land mass, stretching from Shetland in the north to the southern tip of Argyll, including almost 100 inhabited islands. In line with the Government Economic Strategy, HIE’s purpose is to generate sustainable economic growth in every part of the Highlands and Islands.

Mr Craig Spence – Craig Spence was appointed to the HIE Board in October 2008.

Mr Spence is an accounting graduate. He lives in the Orkney Islands with his wife and son where he runs a successful property and tourism business. Craig is passionate about creating opportunities for everyone in society to succeed and has held previous roles in the children’s panel and young enterprise. Over the last decade he has been involved in senior roles in property, business, social and economic development both in Scotland and North America. Craig has developed a broad range of board and leadership experience over this time, both in the public and private sector.

Mr Steven Thomson – Steven Thomson was appointed to the HIE Board in October 2008.

Mr Thomson is a graduate of the University of Edinburgh; Steve was formerly a Managing Director of the Swiss international investment bank, Credit Suisse, working over a 20-year period for a number of investment banks in London, New York, Moscow and Tokyo in equity research and distribution. He returned to Scotland in 2003 and since that point has run from Tiree, through the internet, a market intelligence service providing research coverage of the Russian and CIS aviation industry for a broad range of international business and government clients. Since returning to Scotland with his family, Steve has also been involved in the development and execution of a number of community development projects. These include the construction of Tiree’s community owned 950kw wind turbine and the installation and operation of a wireless broadband network owned by the island’s community development trust.

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Offshore WIND staff, February 20, 2012