Private sector economic development body Opportunity North East (ONE) has appointed Maggie McGinlay as Deputy Chief Executive as it continues to develop and deliver transformational projects to diversify and strengthen the regional economy.
Maggie will join ONE in the new role of Senior Development Director and Deputy Chief Executive, reporting to Jennifer Craw, the Chief Executive Officer. She will support the development and implementation of an ambitious programme of activity that will deliver the renaissance strategy for the North East of Scotland with a lead focus on the newly created ONE Digital sector activity and major projects. She will take up the role in the autumn.
Subscribe to our daily newsletter
Why? Free to subscribe, no paywall, daily business news digest.
Maggie is currently Sector Director for Energy at Scottish Enterprise and has worked in economic development for more than 20 years. She was previously Director of Food and Drink for Scottish Enterprise and a founder member of the Board of Scotland Food and Drink.
A graduate of Robert Gordon University, she spent her early career in London working with British Gas and then the Consumer’s Association before returning to Aberdeen to start her career in economic development. Maggie has extensive networks across Scotland with the business community and public agencies.
This year, ONE will invest more than £3.5 million in activity to support growth across its priority industry sectors, which will secure more than £3.2 million of match funding from partners.
Sir Ian Wood, Chairman of ONE, said: “Maggie will be a great asset to the team as we continue to develop the scale and ambition of ONE’s activity. She is well known and respected in the region and her valuable insights will help to shape our actions and outcomes across our priority sectors.”
Jennifer Craw, Chief Executive of ONE, said: “Maggie brings a wealth of industry and economic development experience to her new role with ONE, including extensive knowledge of two of our key sectors in oil and gas and food and drink. She will now play a key role in the development and delivery of major projects that will catalyse growth to achieve the region’s shared long-term goal of a balanced and resilient economic base. Our industry-led sector boards and the executive team look forward to working with her.”
Maggie McGinlay said: “My time at Scottish Enterprise has afforded me the opportunity to work across many industries with a host of talented people. I now look forward to focussing on the dynamic regional economic development agenda for Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire to which Scottish Enterprise is a key partner. The private sector leadership that ONE has through its board members drawn from the business community is a significant strength and I am excited to be joining ONE’s work to secure the long-term economic prospects for North East Scotland.”
