Nine councillors to decide on identity of new chief executive

A panel of nine SIC councillors has been selected to oversee the recruitment of a new chief executive to replace the departing Alistair Buchan.

Mr Buchan is due to return to his role as Orkney Islands Council’s chief executive in October, and the executive committee agreed a selection panel today.

Political leader Gary Robinson, convener Malcolm Bell and those at the helm of the four main committees – Alastair Cooper, Cecil Smith, Allan Wishart and Vaila Wishart – will be joined by Robert Henderson, George Smith and Jonathan Wills.

It ensures each ward is represented by at least one member on the appointments panel. Mr Buchan was brought in on an interim basis in August 2010 following the damaging debacle surrounding the appointment and departure of David Clark. Prior to that, Morgan Goodlad had been in the job for almost a decade.