Marketing Edinburgh chief Alan Gibson steps down

The former director of marketing at under-fire tourism organisation Marketing Edinburgh has left to take up a position with the National Galleries of Scotland.

Alan Gibson will be joining the galleries’ senior management team as director of public engagement. He was one of three staff whose departures were announced yesterday, with regional brand manager Ailsa Falconer and the personal assistant to the chief executive Sharon Duffy also understood to have left.

Mr Gibson had been overseeing the replacement of former Marketing Edinburgh chief executive Lucy Bird, who resigned following the much derided “Incredinburgh” campaign. Her successor is expected to be announced at the end of next month.

The fallout from Incredinburgh also saw Gerry Farrell temporarily suspended from his media guru role with the Leith Agency, after launching a tirade against deputy council leader Steve Cardownie, one of the loudest critics of the campaign.

A spokesman for Marketing Edinburgh said: “As planned, Marketing Edinburgh is undergoing a period of restructure in order to ensure that the company is as effective and cost-efficient as possible. This has resulted in some staff turnover which has taken place naturally but our focus now is to make certain that we have the right team to produce outstanding results for the city and we expect this process to be complete in a matter of weeks.

“Marketing Edinburgh is entering a fresh, new chapter and we look forward to working with our partners to promote Edinburgh in a number of exciting ways, both home and abroad, in 2013.”

Mr Gibson, who will take up his new post on April 15, said: “I am delighted to be taking up this new role at such an exciting time for the National Galleries of Scotland and look forward to working with everyone at the galleries to help deliver their vision for the future.”

Sir John Leighton, director-general of the National Galleries of Scotland, added: “It is essential that we strengthen ties with existing visitors, build new audiences, nationally and internationally and that we seize all opportunities including digital technology to help our public make the fullest use of the national collections. Alan

Gibson has an outstanding record in marketing, communications and audience development and he will be an extremely welcome addition to the team.”