By Scott Wright

A FORMER senior leader of the Michelin tyre operation in Dundee has been drafted in to lead an institution set up to drive innovation and skills in the Scottish manufacturing industry.

John Reid will take over as chief executive of the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS) in August after a spell leading the Michelin-Scotland Innovation Parc. The parc is being developed in the 32-acre site on Tayside that will cease to be the home of the Michelin plant this year.

Mr Reid, a former general manager of the Michelin factory, has been tasked in his new role at NMIS to grow a “world-leading” group of manufacturing research and development facilities at the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland, based in Renfrewshire, close to Glasgow Airport.

NMIS was established to transform skills, productivity and innovation in Scotland by strengthening links between industry, academia and the public sector. It is run by the University of Strathclyde and supported by Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, Skills Development Scotland, Scottish Funding Council and Renfrewshire Council.

Mr Reid said: “As someone who has dedicated his entire career so far to the development of large-scale manufacturing in Scotland, I am honoured and delighted to have this opportunity to be part of a talented team with the sole focus of driving and supporting the development of advanced manufacturing in Scotland. A mission that is now even more important as the world economy finds new ways of working and recovers from the impact of Covid-19.”