City legal chief to take on £132k-a-year director role

THE city council has moved to appoint Alastair Maclean, its current head of legal services, to one of its most senior positions.

The council confirmed that it had offered the post of director of corporate governance – the second most senior role in the organisation, with a salary of £132,000 a year – to Mr Maclean, following the second round of interviews by the recruitment committee.

The appointment is expected to be ratified tomorrow and was welcomed by one councillor as “very positive news”.

Mr Maclean, 38, currently the council’s head of legal and administrative services, said: “I am very proud to be recommended to council as the preferred candidate.

“There is a lot of work ahead but I relish the chance to be involved in shaping and delivering the corporate and finance functions of the council during this time of change.”

Mr Maclean, a married father-of-one who lives in the Capital, will be working with chief executive Sue Bruce, with one of his first jobs likely to be helping to streamline the council’s management structure.

Jason Rust, economic development spokesman for the Tory group, said: “This is very positive news. Alastair has real experience of private and public sectors which will bring a lot of energy into his position.

“There is a sense of generational change coming across the council, with a number of senior experienced figures retiring recently. As long as the younger people taking their places have a key vision and drive then that’s a very good thing.”

Mr Maclean graduated from Edinburgh University, gaining a first with honours, before completing a legal traineeship at Lindsays WS. He was hired as an assistant at Maclay Murray & Spens, where he later became a partner in corporate and financial services, before joining the council in 2009.

Council leader Jenny Dawe said: “I’m delighted with the strength of the field that applied for the post and, from that, Alastair has emerged as our preferred candidate.

“He will play a vital role in continuing the work to improve both the effectiveness and efficiency of our services.”

Mrs Bruce said: “The council clearly has a number of significant challenges and opportunities ahead. Subject to approval by council, I look forward to welcoming Alastair to the management team and his contribution as we go forward.”

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