Last post for Tattoo chief as he tees up new job in St Andrews

The chief executive of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is to take up a new role at Scotland's most famous golf course.

Euan Loudon, 54, a former assistant professional golfer, will take up his new position at St Andrews early next year.

The St Andrews Links Trust, which manages and maintains the seven public golf courses in the town, including the Old Course, confirmed the appointment last night.

After joining the army in 1974, Mr Loudon, rose to the post of commander of 1st Battalion, The Royal Highland Fusiliers and eventually major general, in which position he was General Officer Commanding the army's 2nd Division and governor of Edinburgh Castle.

In 1991, he was made an OBE for his service in the Gulf as chief of staff of the Desert Rats and became a CBE in 2004 for service in Northern Ireland.

He took up the position with the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in 2007 and during his tenure, the company achieved record profits in 2009.

Mr Loudon said: "I feel privileged to have been appointed to such a high-profile position.

"St Andrews Links is recognised as one of the world's finest golfing destinations and I look forward to developing that reputation even further in the years ahead."

Lord Provost George Grubb, the Tattoo Board chairman, said: "My fellow directors and I are sorry to lose Euan. He has exceeded our expectations in terms of the agenda that we have set him over the past four years and we are deeply grateful to him for what he has done for the Tattoo and for Edinburgh."