FORMER Scottish Enterprise boss Lena Wilson is joining the board of Royal Bank of Scotland, as veteran financier Sir Sandy Crombie prepares to step down as a non-executive director of the Edinburgh-based lender.

Ms Wilson, who was one of Scotland’s highest-paid civil servants during her long-running spell as head the economic development agency, will join Edinburgh-based Royal Bank as a non-executive director on January 1.

Ms Wilson announced her resignation from Scottish Enterprise in July after an at-times controversial tenure. She drew criticism for taking a lucrative a board position at Intertek, the FTSE 100 testing company, while earning a salary of more than £200,000 as boss of the quango.

A Scottish Enterprise spokeswoman said Ms Wilson has been replaced on an interim basis by agency stalwart Paul Lewis while the search for her successor continues.

Meanwhile, Royal Bank chairman Sir Howard Davies praised the “outstanding contribution” made by Sir Sandy, the former boss of Standard Life, during his time on the bank’s board.

Noting that the bank, which is 71 per cent owned by UK taxpayers, had “benefitted greatly from his wisdom and experience”. Sir Howard said: “The Board and I will miss Sandy’s presence as a much-valued colleague and friend, and he leaves RBS with our very best wishes”.