EDINBURGH International Conference Centre (EICC) has appointed a new chief executive.

The council-owned venue has revealed Marshall Dallas will take over from outgoing boss Hans Rissmann after a month-long handover at the end of October.

His appointment comes more than a year after Mr Rissmann announced his retirement. Mr Rissmann, the EICC's first and only chief executive since joining in 1993, had been due to step down in April, 2015.

Mr Dallas, who joins the company on October 1, brings a wealth of experience in the hospitality to the role, having held senior positions at MacDonald Hotels, Queens Moat House, Gleneagles Hotel and Trust House Forte during nearly 25 years in the hotel industry.

More recently he worked in private healthcare, having been a director at Nuffield Health since 2013 and before that executive director of BMI Healthcare.

Mr Dallas said taking the reins at the EICC was a "fantastic opportunity".

He said: "First and foremost it takes me back to Edinburgh and back into an industry I've really enjoyed and had quite a long and prosperous career within in.

"For me to get back into that type of sector really excited me."

The arrival of the new chief executive comes after £30 million was invested in the new Lennox Suite and glass atrium at the venue.

Mr Dallas cited the chance to work with the technology at the Lennox Suite, where a moving floor system means it can be adapted to host different events, as a big attraction to the role, alongside the EICC's status in the global events industry.

He said: "Edinburgh's in a fantastic position.

"We've had a great year this year with all sorts of events happening in Scotland, and I think that's really had a positive effect looking forward into 2015.

"I think it is looking very positive and prosperous, quite frankly."

He also highlighted the potential for the EICC to host more business events and conferences.

He said: "I think there is immense scope as far as Edinburgh is concerned.

"Second to London, it is a city that is very, very attractive to the business community, not just in the UK but on a global stage.

"What we are going to try to do with that is to entice people and companies to utilise this fantastic facility we have got."

EICC chairman, Gordon Munro, said the organisation was confident that Mr Dallas "has the skill set required to take the expanded, award-winning business forward."