Jane Morrison-Ross, currently CEO of ScotlandIS, will take on the key leadership role to drive forward SOSE’s vision to be bold, ambitious, and deliver for the South.
The appointment has been made after a ten-week recruitment process and she will take over in February from Nick Halfhide, who has been interim CEO.
Jane, pictured above, said: “I am delighted to have the opportunity to work with Russel and to take up the reins from Nick. He and the team at SOSE have done an incredible job so far in hugely challenging circumstances.
“The SOSE region covers an area of Scotland rich in heritage but also with huge future potential. We will continue to be innovative, entrepreneurial, and focused on delivering for the individuals, communities, businesses and economy of the South of Scotland.”
Congratulating her, SOSE chairman Professor Russel Griggs said: “We have embarked on such an incredible journey for the South of Scotland so I am sure that with Jane’s experience and enthusiasm we will continue to drive forward our vision and passion for our region.
“Jane adds to the incredible team that we have been steadily building and we have almost 70 members of staff now. We also have an exceptional board who have a broad range of knowledge and experience and have already showed since we started, their passion and commitment both to SOSE and the South of Scotland.
“I would like to thank Nick Halfhide for the great work he has done as interim CEO to get us off the ground.
“Together we are here to do great things with our people of the south to deliver lasting change in the South of Scotland.”
And Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing welcomed the move and described it as ‘an important step for SOSE’, adding: “Jane brings a wealth of skills and experience and I look forward to seeing SOSE continue to grow under her leadership, building on the work already done to deliver on our ambitions for the South of Scotland.”
Jane is a highly experienced consulting industry executive, a former strategy and transformation specialist with 25 years’ experience working across the public and private sector.
She has a strong track record of working in and with companies from SME to global enterprises, holding senior roles in industry, third sector and public sector organisations.
Jane also holds board and advisory positions with the UK Technology Cluster Group, OneDigital, Digital Skills Group Scotland and Engineering Skills Group Scotland, and is chair of a Scottish charity in Dumfries. In December Jane joins the Lay Court of Edinburgh Napier University.
