SCOTTISH Enterprise is losing two more executives, days after its

director of finance and planning decided to return to the private

sector.

On Monday, John Langlands was headhunted to the finance director's

chair at window blinds maker, Ashley Group. Now Dennis MacPhail, head of

SE's electronics and manufacturing services group is leaving to become

managing director of the European arm of an American cable manufacturer.

And one of his senior colleagues in the electronics unit, Gary Weston,

is leaving to take up a post with Digital, the American computer

manufacturer.

MacPhail, who has previously worked for NCR, Timex and Apollo, is

joining Madison Cable of Massachusetts, whose only European location at

present is a distribution centre in Port Glasgow.

One of his key tasks will be to find a European manufacturing base for

the company, which makes low voltage data transmission cable, mainly for

the computer industry.

At Scottish Enterprise, MacPhail was deeply involved in the launch of

the Scottish Electronics Forum last year, an industry-led body which

aims to generate action on the conclusions of the Monitor report. The

Monitor study pinpointed a series of weaknesses in the Scottish

electronics sector and warned of significant job losses by 1997 if

nothing is done.

The loss of two key staff in SE's electronics unit in one go will

worry those in the Scottish electronics sector who want to see rapid

action on the recommendations in the Monitor report.

Senior sources in both Scottish Enterprise and the Scottish Office

indicate that the loss of John Langlands, who is credited with playing a

highly constructive role in Scottish Enterprise, will be sorely felt by

the organisation.