A SENIOR figure from the Arts Council of England said she was thrilled and excited after being appointed the new head of Scotland's national arts funding body.

Janet Archer, who has a background in dance, will take up her £110,000-a-year post as chief executive of Creative Scotland on July 1.

Ms Archer, who emerged as a leading candidate for the role in the last month of a recruitment process described by one insider as "peculiarly complicated" was praised by the Glasgow dance company she has chaired over the last three years.

The Work Room, based in Glasgow's Tramway venue, described Ms Archer, who succeeds Andrew Dixon six months after his resignation, as having "vision, clarity of thought, and sensitivity".

She will now lead the often-controversial national funding body, which distributes £80 million a year in Government and National Lottery funds, as it seeks to reform after last year's crisis. The body had come under sustained attack from artists, writers and arts companies.

Last night she said she had spent a day meeting Creative Scotland staff "brimming with passion, energy and ideas".

Ms Archer said: "I am thrilled and excited at the chance to take on this important role for the arts, screen and creative industries in Scotland.

"The passion and intelligence emerging out of recent debate has reinforced the vital role that Creative Scotland has to play as a partner and facilitator.

"These conversations are evidence of a genuine dynamic at work in the country, and a real desire to make the best use of the fantastic resources of intellectual and human capital available to us.

"I'm simply delighted to have the opportunity to contribute towards Scotland's creative future and look forward to working with people everywhere to unlock talent, drive opportunity, and grow artistic and cultural capital for this amazingly ambitious nation."

Roanne Dods, artistic director of Pal Labs and a former director of Jerwood Charitable Foundation, said: "Janet Archer is a strong, exciting and reassuring choice of leader for Creative Scotland at this time.

"She understands the issues in Scotland, is a thoughtful diplomat, an intelligent decision-maker, and has strong roots in artistic practice. Its an auspicious decision."

One source close to the process said: "I do hope the 'but she's not Scottish' lot don't crank up, as it is such a complete irrelevance beside what recommends her – a dancer, a mother, a very, very capable communicator, a collaborator, a previously-appointed CEO, a very clear thinker, self-aware, informed, not remotely pompous, and a woman."

Earlier this year, the writer and artist Alasdair Gray caused a furore when he wrote that some English arts administrators acted like colonists when leading major cultural institutions in Scotland.

However, last night the writer said: "I wish everybody good luck – no matter the extent of their ignorance.

"I hope they do their job as best as they can.

"It is nice she knows a little about Scotland."

The application and interview process for the chief executive role began in April.

Robert Palmer, the former director of Glasgow's 1990 European City of Culture bid, was considered to be a front-runner for the job. However, he withdrew from the process – causing a delay and a degree of consternation within the interview panel and the Creative Scotland board.

A statement from the board said the choice of Ms Archer, born in London in 1960, had been unanimous. However, one insider said: "I dispute the view this decision has not been contentious at board level."

Another source said: "The whole process has been peculiarly complicated."

Sir Sandy Crombie, chairman of Creative Scotland said: "We are all looking forward to working with Janet and the senior management team in building on the feedback and relationships with arts practitioners throughout Scotland.

"The board was impressed with her policy making and partnership skills and knowledge across the whole field of the wider arts, screen and creative industries."