Susan Deacon named first female chair of IoD Scotland

FORMER Scottish health minister Susan Deacon has been named chair of the Institute of Directors (IoD) in Scotland.

Susan Deacon becomes the first female chair of IoD Scotland

Deacon, who will be the first woman to hold the role, succeeds Ian McKay, who will officially stand down at the IoD Scotland conference tomorrow, having served since 2012. She joins Lady Barbara Judge at the IoD, who in February was appointed the first woman to chair the organisation.

McKay said: “The future of the IoD is in excellent hands with Susan at the helm. Her varied experience and approach to leadership will be of real benefit to the IoD at a time when boards are increasingly embracing change.”

Deacon, who stood down as the Labour MSP for Edinburgh East & Musselburgh in 2007, is assistant principal of external relations and a professorial fellow at the University of Edinburgh. Her first chance to address the IoD Scotland will be at its annual conference at Cameron House, Loch Lomond, on Friday.