SSE names Scottish Enterprise Chair Gillies as new senior independent director

Perth-based Energy giant SSE has appointed Scottish Enterprise chairman Crawford Gillies as its new non-executive director and senior independent director.

The FTSE 100 group said Mr Gillies, who is also currently a non-executive director of Edinburgh-based Standard Life as well as Barclays, will take up his latest appointment on 1 August.

Mr Gillies will replace Richard Gillingwater, who is set to take on the role of chairman at SSE.

Mr Gillingwater said of his replacement: “He has extensive business and management experience in the private sector and strong associations with the public sector as well.

“I am sure that all of this will be of immense value to the board and to SSE as a whole.”

Speaking on his new post, Mr Gillies, who also holds a non-executive post at outsourcing company Mitie Group, added: “Having gone to school in Perth it is particularly pleasing for me to have the opportunity to join the board of SSE which, from its headquarters there, is now a leading energy provider across the UK and Ireland.

“Energy is a critical resource, and this is a key time for the sector, and I am looking forward to contributing to SSE’s commitment to work for the benefit of customers and investors alike.”

Mr Gillies is due to step down from the board of Mitie next month and is expected to leave his role at Scottish Enterprise later this year.

He began his career as a chartered accountant and went on to spend more than two decades with management consultancy Bain & Company before starting to build a portfolio of non-executive roles.