New chair to take the helm at Scotsman publishers

THE publishers of The Scotsman newspaper are to have a new chair.

Yesterday, Johnston Press announced that Ian Russell will succeed Roger Parry as chair, with effect from March 12.

In the same announcement, it was revealed that board member, Simon Waugh, will be stepping down from the board tomorrow, while Parry and Gavin Patterson will be doing likewise in April.

Parry has been on the board for 12 years, eight as chair.

He is a former finance director of Scottish Power plc.

During his tenure, Johnston Press has grown to become the second-largest regional newspaper publisher in the UK and the largest publisher of weekly newspapers in the Republic of Ireland.

Fifty-six year-old Russell is chair of the Audit Committee plus Advanced Power AG and Remploy Ltd. He is a director of the Mercantile Investment Trust plc and British Assets Trust plc, an advisor to 3i Group and Clyde Bergemann Power Group, and chair of the campaign board for the University of Edinburgh.

Earlier this month, John Fry took over from Tim Bowdler, as Johnston Press chief executive.