Jim Panton to head the family firm

He will take charge of water quality engineering firm Panton McLeod as full-time chairman and chief executive as part of a wider management re-structure.

Panton had been acting as interim non-executive chairman following the retirement of his father at the start of the year.

He said: “I’m very proud to be taking over the position that my father held for so long. He built Panton McLeod up from scratch and under his tenure as chairman the company has gone from strength to strength, and is now one of the most prominent names in the water industry.”

The company cleans, inspects and repairs water storage facilities for some of the UK’s biggest utility firms.

As part of the restructure, Iain Weir becomes chief operating officer and will use his decade of experience with the company to focus on delivering high standards of service.

Paul Henderson will focus on expanding and developing the business as Panton McLeod’s new sales and marketing director.

Sandy Cunningham has left Clydesdale after 26 years to become senior commercial director for Glasgow at rival HSBC. The move comes as his new employer focuses on accelerating its expansion in Scotland on the back of strong deposit, loan and income growth in 2011.

Cunningham, who was corporate partner at Clydesdale Bank for the past five years, will be responsible for managing and developing relationships with both existing and new clients.

The position is one of four senior director commercial banking roles being created over the coming months.

Cunningham said: “It is a really exciting time to join the business, as HSBC’s commercial client base continues to expand and diversify.”

Meanwhile actuary Alan Gill is turning headhunter, joining executive search firm Fletcher Jones. Gill will focus on director and partner appointments in the financial sector and the professions.