Law firm's planning coup

Law firm's planning coup

PLANNING and construction lawyer Murray Shaw, pictured, has joined Gillespie Macandrew at ­partner level.

Mr Shaw spent more than 30 years with Biggart Baillie, including more than 20 years as a partner, and was chairman and senior partner at the time of its merger with DWF in 2012.

He has been involved in some of Scotland's best-known planning cases, having advised Aberdeenshire Council on the Trump development and being a principal consortium member in the Edinburgh trams project.

Derek McCulloch, head of Gillespie Macandrew's commercial division, said: "This is a major coup for Gillespie Macandrew.

"Murray is recognised as a leading expert on planning and construction law and he will be of invaluable assistance to our clients across several sectors.

"This appointment is the latest step in our strategic development plan, which we introduced with the aim of having top-level skills in each of our specialist areas and being recognised for these."

New chief for marine firm

CALEDONIAN Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) has appointed Tom Docherty as its new chief executive.

Mr Docherty, a marine engineer, will take over from Guy Platten next month.

He was previously managing director at Red Funnel, which has operated a passenger, car and freight business between Southampton and the Isle of Man for nearly 150 years.

Mr Docherty, who is originally from Glasgow, has spent the bulk of his career working in ferries, towage, salvage vessels and the ports industry in the south of England.

CMAL chairman Grenville Johnston said: "We warmly welcome Tom to the CMAL team. Tom's background and experience will be an excellent match for the future projects and challenges faced by CMAL as we continue to provide world-class infrastructure support and ground-breaking vessel technology across the Clyde and Hebrides."

Rural group lands new officer

SCOTTISH Land & Estates has strengthened its policy team by appointing a new officer to focus on rural business and property issues.

Katy Dickson, pictured, joins the organisation after more than four years working as a rural surveyor in Perthshire and the surrounding area.

Having principally been involved in the management of mixed estates, Ms Dickson has gained knowledge of farming, forestry, field sports, employment and renewable energy, and has also been responsible for letting and managing a wide-ranging portfolio of residential properties, including estate homes and private houses.

In her new role, Ms Dickson will develop policy proposals and provide advice to the membership with a focus on rural business and property issues.

Leach cleans up at Spotless

SPOTLESS Commercial Cleaning has appointed of Rod Leach as its new managing director.

The appointment has been made as part of a restructuring of its senior management team, which has also seen former managing director Niall Moffat move into the new role of chief executive.

Edinburgh-based Spotless, which has offices across the UK, appointed Mr Leach back in 2009 to run its Aberdeen operation. He moved to its base when he became deputy managing director in 2012.

Mr Leach served in the army for 18 years and is a former international athlete who competed for Britain in the winter and summer Olympic Games. In 1994 he took part in the biathlon event in Lillehammer and six years later he went to the Sydney games to compete in the 3000m steeplechase.