ATHOLL Duncan, a former executive director of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland, has been appointed as the new chairman of the Scottish Salmon Producers' Organisation.

Mr Duncan, a 55-year-old executive coach and a former chairman of the British Horseracing Authority, will take up the post next month.

READ MORE: Ian McConnell: A gift for Johnson to stop very bad Brexit days for millions in the UK

He succeeds Gilpin Bradley, the managing director of Wester Ross Fisheries who became temporary SSPO chairman two years ago.

Mr Duncan, a former head of news and current affairs at BBC Scotland, highlighted the economic and social contribution of the salmon-farming sector, while also flagging the importance of the industry operating in a manner “sympathetic” to communities.

READ MORE: £1.2m hotel to be built at Scottish marina

He said: “It is a great privilege for me to work with a farming sector which is the UK’s leading food exporter and contributes so much in terms of economic and social value. I look forward to helping the sector’s leaders to fulfil their ambitious growth plans and to working with the local communities, politicians and regulators who all have such an important stake.”

READ MORE: Ian McConnell: Brexiters more baffling than Flat Earthers as Cabinet views hit pound

Mr Duncan, who works with senior corporate leaders in the Middle East, Europe and the US on their personal and business development and is chairman of national sports coaches body UK Coaching, added: “The Scottish farmed salmon sector is world-leading today and keen to play an even larger part in the economic development of Scotland in the future.

“But we fully appreciate the challenges of doing that in a way which is sympathetic to the communities we work in, while embracing the new regulatory and environmental standards being developed...around the world.”