Previously a director at the Scottish Chambers of Commerce and CEO of West Lothian Chambers of Commerce, as well as CMO at digital skills academy CodeClan, Ms Scott aims to drive growth in the Scottish market and across the UK’s financial services sector.

Zühlke, a Swiss firm founded in 1968, now employs nearly 2,000 professionals across Europe and Asia. In the UK, it has offices in London, Manchester, and Edinburgh, which was officially opened by Kate Forbes MSP and the Swiss Ambassador to the UK, Markus Leitner, in June 2022. The company’s client portfolio includes notable names like HSBC and NHS England, which aligns with its focus on the financial services, government, and healthcare sectors.

According to Wolfgang Emmerich, Zühlke UK’s CEO, Scotland’s potential fits well with the group’s sector focus both in the UK and globally.

He said: “We see exciting potential in Scotland, matching up with our sector focus across the UK and internationally. We were also impressed by the talent in Scotland, with multiple world-class universities producing high-quality computer science and engineering degrees. It is great to have Linda in place to support our growth plans.

“We believe that innovation and technology can be a positive force for business and society and can help us and our clients reach a sustainable future.”

Ms Scott said: “I have been so impressed by the caliber of the existing team across the UK, and the vision Wolfgang has for a fast-growing office in Scotland.

“We already work with clients here, but the investment being made will see more people joining and the capacity to deliver an ever better service from our local base.

“At Zühlke we can lean on global industry experts in various fields, a resource that is now available to highly ambitious businesses and organisations in Scotland.”

Zühlke’s credentials include a critical role in the design and development the NHS COVID-19 app for England and supporting infrastructure, which saw over 22 million downloads. Ms Scott points out that the rapid twelve-week turnaround from ideation to launch demonstrates the company’s capability in executing complex projects swiftly.

Ms Scott added: “Zühlke’s role in the development of the Covid app is well documented, and we are excited to bring the team’s talents to the Scottish scene. We have a number of client wins and senior hires in the pipeline, which we will be announcing later in the year.

“From startups and scale-ups, right through to large global corporates, and throughout the private and public sectors, Scotland has such a vibrant business scene, and we want Zühlke to become a real fixture in the nation’s business world.”