Wiltshire man lands Shetland job

SHETLAND Islands Council has finally appointed a new chief executive – more than two years after David Clark, the former head of the local authority, left after a controversial and brief spell in office.

Mr Clark vacated his post with a “golden handshake” of £306,000 in June, 2010, following an eight-month spell in office which was mired in scandal and controversy.

When he quit, Mr Clark, who was cleared of allegations that he threatened a councillor with violence, claimed that moves to oust him began after a tabloid newspaper ran an “inaccurate and derogatory story” about his private life.

Three days after his departure, the islands council announced that Alistair Buchan, chief executive of neighbouring Orkney Islands Council, would be taking up the post of interim chief executive.

Yesterday, the authority announced that Mark Boden, the former corporate director of Wiltshire Council, had been appointed. Gary Robinson, the leader of the council, said: “Mark Boden impressed the panel with his experience, knowledge and passion for Shetland. He combines experience and innovation, and has extensive experience.”