Edinburgh Zoo bosses 'find new chief executive'

Published on Friday 13 May 2011 11:04

THE Zoo has finally found a replacement for former chief executive David Windmill, but the attraction is not ready to announce the appointment, it was reported today.

The news follows a vote of no-confidence in chairman of the zoo, Donald Emslie, at a crisis meeting of Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) members on Thursday.

Mr Windmill announced he was retiring in September and the board's failure to find a replacement was one of the criticisms voiced during the meeting.

Mr Emslie is refusing to stand down immediately and board member Manus Fullerton said the society was still considering its position after the unprecedented vote.

Mr Emslie has been urged to quit as head of the RZSS after the organisation was plunged into chaos by the suspension of two senior executives and the sacking of a third.

Although Mr Emslie said he had "fully respected" the views of the zoo's members, the stumbling block to his resignation is that the society is currently the subject of an investigation by the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator.

Mr Fullerton, vice-chairman of the society, said: "I would hope the board will be able to meet over the over next few weeks to discuss what happens next."

No board meeting has been arranged before the society's annual general meeting, which takes place in two weeks' time.