New Chair of Scottish Screen appointed

Mike Watson, Minister for Tourism, Culture & Sport at the Scottish Executive, has announced the appointment of Ray Macfarlane as the new chair of Scottish Screen.
Ms Macfarlane, who has been a member of the Board of the company since its inception in April 1997, succeeds James Lee, whose four year term of office ended in May.
Chief Executive of Scottish Screen, Steve McIntyre is delighted with the news.
He said: "Ray has been an active and enthusiastic member of the board for several years and I am very pleased that she is now taking the chair. She brings a fresh and interesting business perspective to the Board, which I know will be of great benefit to us as we strive to build the business expertise of the film, television and new media sector in Scotland. I am greatly looking forward to working with her, as indeed are all the staff at Scottish Screen."
Ray Macfarlane is a Senior Director of Business Banking at the Bank of Scotland. Currently based in Edinburgh, her work in product and market development includes responsibility for communications, PR and sponsorship.
Commenting on her new appointment she said: "This is an exciting time to be taking over the reins at Scottish Screen. I am sure we will have many challenges to face, but obviously I know the team and the Board well, so I am very confident that we can look forward to making real progress."
Originally from Ayrshire, Ms Macfarlane is a graduate of the University of Glasgow (MA, LLB, MBA) and is a qualified solicitor and notary public. She began her career in private practice, but most of her working life has been spent in economic development, holding senior posts in the Scottish Development Agency, Scottish Borders Enterprise and Scottish Enterprise, where she was Managing Director of National and International Operations.
Ms Macfarlane has travelled extensively on business, particularly in inward investment and trade development roles, and led Scottish Enterprise's involvement in the development of a series of national strategies such as the commercialisation of the science base, skills development, and globalisation.
Ray is also a non-executive director of the Scottish Institute of Sport, St. Mary's Music School, and LINC Scotland. She is married with one daughter and lives in East Lothian.
She takes over as Chair of Scottish Screen on 1 September 2002 for a three-year term of office.
(GB)