Council appoints three new directors

SHETLAND Islands Council has appointed three new directors internally with the remaining two now to be advertised nationally.

Following two days of intense interviews with candidates, councillors have appointed former head of schools Helen Budge as director of children’s services; former head of community care Christine Ferguson as director of community care services; and former head of economic development Neil Grant as director of development services.

No appointments were made to the posts of director of infrastructure services and director or corporate services, which will now be advertised outwith Shetland.

Council chief executive Alistair Buchan said: “I look forward to welcoming Helen, Christine and Neil to the council’s new corporate management team.

“I am delighted that three of our senior managers have successfully gained these posts following a rigorous recruitment process, and am confident that other council managers will follow them in attaining positions in the restructured council.”

Leader of the council Josie Simpson added: “It’s great to see three of our internal candidates achieving their goals in this way.

“It was a very challenging process and I would like to pay tribute to everyone involved, applicants, councillors and the external recruitment specialists who supported the candidates and advised the council. ”