Highlands and Islands Airports

Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson today announced the appointment of two new Non-Executive Directors of the Board of Highlands & Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL). The appointments will be for three years and will run from March 1, when Shona MacLennan and Grenville Johnston step down from the Board after seven years' service.

The new Board members are Dr Michael Cantlay and Mr Andrew Castell.

Michael Cantlay was formerly Chairman and Managing Director of highland dress manufacturer and retailer Hector Russell. Today his principal UK business is Inverness-shire based William Glen Ltd which owns and operates highland dress businesses in Toronto, Canada and San Francisco, USA. Dr Cantlay also brings a strong track record at Board level in the public sector in Scotland. He is Convener to Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority and is Chair of the Board of Management to Forth Valley College. He was formerly Chair of Scottish Enterprise Forth Valley and Deputy Chair of VisitScotland. Dr Cantlay lives in Perthshire. Dr Cantlay currently holds another Ministerial public appointment as Convener to Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority which attracts remuneration £189.89 per day for a time commitment of 12 days per month.

Andrew Castell is a Chartered Accountant and has a background in Financial Services, having worked in investment banking and the insurance industry. He was formerly Group Finance Director of CBS Insurance Holdings PLC and Goshawk Insurance Holdings PLC. He has particular experience of corporate finance and corporate restructuring. He lives in Inverness-shire. Mr Castell holds no other Ministerial public appointment.

These appointments will be for three years and will run from March 1, 2008 to February 28, 2011. The posts are part-time and attract a remuneration of £6,850 per annum for a time commitment of two days per month.

HIAL is a company wholly owned by the Scottish Ministers and is sponsored by the Scottish Government Transport Directorate. The company's purpose is to maintain the safe operation of its airports, and to support economic and social development in the Highlands and Islands. HIAL currently operates 10 airports in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, located at Barra, Benbecula, Campbeltown, Islay, Inverness, Kirkwall, Stornoway, Sumburgh Tiree and Wick. In addition, on 1 December 2007, HIAL took over the operation and management of Dundee Airport. Total passenger numbers in 2006/07 were 1,232,782, ranging from 7,570 at Tiree to 698,885 at Inverness.

These Ministerial public appointments were made in accordance with the Code of Practice of the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland.

All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees' political activity (if there is any to be declared) to be made public. Neither Dr Cantlay nor Mr Castell has any political affiliation.