Law Society of Scotland CEO appointed as interim chair of HIAL

Law Society of Scotland chief executive Lorna Jack has been appointed interim chair of Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL).

Ms Jack, currently a non-executive board member and chair of the HIAL’s audit committee, has been appointed as interim chair by Transport and Islands Minister Humza Yousef, following the appointment of Dr Mike Cantlay OBE as chair of the Scottish Funding Council. She will continue in her role as Chief Executive of the Law Society, taking approximately one day per week to carry out her duties as interim chair.

The temporary role is expected to last up to eight months while Transport Scotland goes through the public appointments process to recruit a new permanent chair.

Lorna Jack said: “This is a very exciting, albeit challenging, opportunity. I’m delighted to have been appointed as interim chair at HIAL, continuing the superb work of Mike Cantlay until a permanent chair can be appointed. HIAL has gone from strength to strength, with increasing numbers of passengers and flights, under his and managing director Inglis Lyon's leadership. I am only able to take this on in the short term with the support and commitment  of my colleague non-executive directors at HIAL and its senior management team. Together we will work to maintain that success over this transition period.”

“I’ve also been able to do this thanks to the incredible support of the Law Society’s Council, Board and senior management team. We are about to launch our third ambitious annual plan for the Society as part of our five year strategy Leading Legal Excellence, and I will continue to drive this forward alongside our highly dedicated team at the Society to deliver for our membership and the public they serve."