Succession planning at Scottish Enterprise
2 Jun 09
Jack Perry has overseen major changes at Scottish Enterprise, but stability for the organisation going forward is required if the Scottish Government wants to attract the very best to succeed him
News broke over the weekend that Jack Perry, the CA who has headed Scottish Enterprise for more than five years, is stepping down. It’s been a stormy tenure, and Scottish Enterprise still has its critics, but most agree that the organisation has got itself onto a more stable footing under Perry.
He has promised to stay on until a successor has been appointed. I am sure there will be no shortage of offers for Perry to consider as he plans his next career move. But what about the question of appointing a successor? That could be a trickier question if the Scottish Government is looking to find the best possible chief executive for SE.
One commentator over the weekend described the post as a “poisoned chalice”. It is certainly an intensely political job, and has not been made easier over the past few years by party political squabbling. SE has been through major restructuring already and has seen much of its economic development role moving back to local authorities.
If the Scottish Government is really looking to attract the best candidates, it will have to make it very clear what its intentions are for SE and economic development, going forward. If the organisation’s role - or even its very existence - is seen as being in doubt, it won’t be an appealing post for the best candidates, even with a £200k pay package.