JIM McFarlane, the longest-serving senior director at Scottish Enterprise (SE), is to step back from his duties, triggering a high-level reshuffle at the agency.
McFarlane, the second-highest paid executive at SE after chief executive Lena Wilson, is to take partial retirement after 33 years of service at the agency and its predecessors.
He will relinquish a wide-ranging role that includes overall responsibility for supporting Scottish businesses, overseeing SE's company investments and the Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service.
For one year he will work three days per week in a new without-portfolio role in which he will support and advise Wilson. He is leaving the executive leadership team and will accordingly receive an undisclosed pay cut from his current £135,000 to £139,000pa income. McFarlane's current duties will be divided between other senior colleagues.
Paul Lewis, head of sectors and commercialisation, will take over his company investment duties as head of the Scottish Investment Bank.
Meanwhile, Adrian Gillespie, currently senior director of energy and low-carbon technologies, has been promoted to the executive leadership team.
A former manager of Marks & Spencer, Gillespie will now be responsible for company growth, infrastructure, innovation and enterprise.
Maggie McGinlay, director of food and drink and the Aberdeen and shire regional operation, will take over Gillespie's energy role. This will take advantage of the fact that she is based in Aberdeen, the home of the oil industry. Like Gillespie, who held the brief for nearly four years, McGinlay has no previous experience in the sector.
Lena Wilson said: "Jim's contribution to economic development in Scotland has been immeasurable and his wealth of knowledge and experience is invaluable. By reducing his hours and taking on a new advisory role, Jim will be able to phase his retirement and transfer his knowledge and experience."
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