Ms McWilliam has a decade of experience working in the Scottish business and third sectors, including roles responsible for corporate communications, membership management and professional development. She joined the IoD team in October 2021 as a Senior Branch Manager and has been appointed as director of nations following a competitive recruitment process.

Speaking about her appointment, Jonathan Geldart, director general of the Institute of Directors, said: “Catherine brilliantly reflects the tenacity of leaders in Scotland, who have been working through one crisis after another over the last three years.

“Skills shortages, recruitment challenges and energy costs are all priorities for leaders right now, and Catherine is well placed to provide practical support and suggest innovative solutions to help assuage these concerns, or even simply to connect leaders with others experiencing the same issues.

“She brings fresh thinking to the IoD and represents our strategic direction, which is to be more inclusive and diverse. She will ensure we keep pace with industry, technology and a changing workforce, and build a more diverse membership portfolio which is truly relevant for the world we live in now.”

Chair of IoD Scotland, Aidan O’Carroll, said: “Catherine has already built great relationships with many of our members during her time with us. She will be an asset to the team here in Scotland, and will introduce our members to new opportunities as we navigate through these challenging times.”

Commenting on her appointment, Ms McWilliam said: “I have been part of the IoD team for nearly a year, and I can see the positive impact that the organisation has on leaders who engage with our professional development and networking opportunities.

“I look forward to leading the team in Scotland to ensure we continue to provide this support, while also broadening the IoD’s appeal to an emerging band of business leaders who are facing challenges they’ve never dealt with before.

“That’s the beauty of the IoD – creating a space for business leaders to share experiences and by doing so, we can all rise up.”

Catherine succeeds previous national director, Louise Macdonald, who was appointed director general of Scottish economy in the spring of this year.