Gillian Docherty

Ms Docherty succeeds Paul Little, principal and CEO of City of Glasgow College who steps down following the completion of his term.

She will be deputised by Anne Ledgerwood, St Enoch Centre director who takes the post of deputy chair for the same two-year term.

The Chamber also added three new members to its board of management, namely Peter Duthie, Scottish Event Campus CEO, Janet Martin, director of Commercial Banking Services at Royal Bank of Scotland and Derek Provan CEO of AGS Airports which owns Glasgow Airport.

They join those continuing on the board of management; past president Paul Little, Holdfast Entertainment Group director and chair of Sauchiehall Street BID Brian Fulton and Arnold Clark Group people director Carol Henry.

The new Council directors are Fiona Doherty, managing director, Stagecoach West Scotland, Stuart Gallacher, head of industrial liaison, BAE Systems, Lisa Lawson, founder & managing director, Dear Green, Stephen Lewis, managing director, HFD Property Group and Tracey McNellan, chief executive, GO Radio.

Gillian Docherty said: “It’s an honour to be elected to the position of President of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, following in the footsteps of Paul and his predecessors in their tireless efforts and support for the Glasgow business community and beyond.

“I’d like to firstly pay tribute and thank Paul and the executive team for all they have achieved amidst such a challenging backdrop for our economy and our members over the past two years, and also for delivery of complementary events and advice surrounding COP26. I am eager to see the Chamber develop a legacy from COP26 and build on the success of our Climate Chamber mission.

“In my new role at the University of Strathclyde I will work to drive activities with industry and support Scotland and the wider UK’s economic recovery from the global pandemic and this ethos will be mirrored in my role as president.

“It’s an exciting time for the Chamber as we support many projects and businesses that will shape the future for our city economy including those close to my heart through the Innovation Districts.”

Glasgow Chamber chief executive Stuart Patrick added: “Gillian takes the helm after serving as deputy to Paul and is well placed to lead the Chamber through the next two years.

“Together with the Chamber Board and Council of Directors, we will work towards the delivery of a business plan that focuses on helping Chamber members recover from the pandemic. We will also be working closely with partners to achieve the aims of the city’s economic strategy including the recovery of the City Centre, the promotion of international trade, the improvement of opportunities for Glasgow’s young people and maintaining the COP26 momentum to achieve net zero.”

Gillian Docherty was previously CEO at Data Lab for six years, an organisation which helps Scottish industry innovate through data science and artificial intelligence. She was appointed an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours 2019 for Services to Information Technology and Business.