New chief for Alliance savings

ALLIANCE Trust, the Dundee-based investment manager, has promoted distribution director Patrick Mill to head its savings division.

Mill has more than 20 years’ experience in the financial services industry, with previous roles including sales director at Prudential and managing director of financial services at Bradford & Bingley.

The appointment comes as Alliance Trust seeks to expand into the market for financial advice following changes to industry regulation due in January, known as the Retail Distribution Review (RDR).

Chief executive Katherine Garrett-Cox said: “Patrick has been instrumental in the growth of our savings business over the last two years and has proven in his role as distribution director that he has both the experience and leadership skills to drive the business forward and deliver long-term value for our shareholders.”

Networking day for entrepreneurs

FORMER Scottish Enterprise chief Jack Perry and Gregor Lawson, co-founder of Morphsuits, will be among the speakers at a conference for Scotland’s entrepreneurs this week.

Organiser WeDo Scotland says the event, in Edinburgh on Thursday, will give high-flyers from across the country the chance to learn from each other and hear advice from business experts.

Gemma trots on to NFUS legal team

RURAL enterprise expert Gemma Thomson is indulging her passion for farming with a move to NFU Scotland, and is looking forward to getting stuck in as the union’s legal and technical policy manager.

Until recently she worked with the UK agricultural service provider Agrii.

Thomson, who enjoys showing and breeding Highland ponies, will bolster the team by taking on policy responsibilities for areas including agricultural tenancies, planning, taxation and employment.