Smith takes on infrastructure director job at council

SHETLAND Islands Council has appointed acting ports and harbour manager John Smith as its new director of infrastructure services.

Smith joined the council in 1994 as IT manager and he has also worked in organisational development, performance management and change management roles.

The infrastructure post – which oversees departments such as ports, roads, estate and environmental services – has been vacant since Maggie Sandison took on the role of chief executive in February.

Smith said he was “delighted to have been given this opportunity at an exciting time for the council with a new chief executive and new political leadership.”

“I have enjoyed my varied roles over the years and am especially happy to be continuing my link with ports and harbours,” he said.

“I am very much looking forward to tackling fresh challenges and opportunities with the infrastructure team.”

New council leader Steven Coutts added: “I am particularly proud we were able to appoint an internal candidate for this key role in the council’s senior management team.

“We had a good group of candidates, but John was the strongest in the field. I am looking forward immensely to working with John in his new role.”

The news comes in the same week that finance chief Jonathan Belford announced that will be leaving the council later this year.