ABERDEEN & Grampian Chamber of Commerce has announced the appointment of two new non-executive directors to its board along with a number of new additions to its policy council.
North-east business leaders Bob Keiller and Ray Riddoch have been appointed to the board for the first time, replacing vice president Jennifer Young and John Brebner who is stepping down from the role of immediate past president.
Deborah O’Neil of NovaBiotics and Derren McRae of CBRE have been re-appointed to serve their second three year terms.
Director of AB15, Bob Keiller was appointed chairman of Scottish Enterprise in January 2016. Previously chief executive officer of Wood Group, he was responsible for the creation of PSN by manufacturing a $280m management buyout from Halliburton in 2006 and completed the $1bn sale of PSN to Wood Group in April 2011.
Mr Keiller said: “I want to see local businesses survive and grow. The support and advice that the Chamber provides is vital and I want to help the organisation to be even more effective and have an even greater impact on our local economy.”
An established energy industry leader with a career spanning 40 years, Ray Riddoch has worked for several international exploration and production operators both in the UK and overseas.
Over the years he has held several board positions in industry organisations and served as HRH Prince of Wales Ambassador for Business in the Community in Scotland for three years. Mr Riddoch retired as CNOOC International managing director in May 2020 and has taken up several board appointments in the Aberdeen area.
The policy council election attracted significant levels of interest and engagement with nominations from across the North-east business community, with Maggie Bochel of Aurora Planning re-elected for a further three year term.
Joining the council for the first time after having been elected by the Chamber membership are Audrey Sheal of ONE, Dan Smith of Savills, Gavin Currie of Bancon Construction, Sarah D Stuart of Ledingham Chalmers LLP, Ian Phillips of Pale Blue Dot Energy, Karri Tough of BP, Stuart McPhee of Siberia Bar & Hotel, Jim Reid of Jim Reid Vehicle Sales & Service; and Murray Whittaker of Whittaker Engineering.
Russell Borthwick, Chamber chief executive, said: “The policy council is representative of the North-east’s business community and is in place to ensure that the Chamber team has its finger on the pulse on the key issues, challenges and opportunities facing our membership and our region.
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“Having people who are as passionate as we are about our aim of helping businesses to be better today while creating the conditions that will ensure the future economic success of the region and are keen to actively help us deliver on this will be vital as we move forward.
“We thank John and Jennifer for their commitment and support to the Chamber over many years and know they will remain strong advocates for the work we do.”
