Ex-mandarin named new airport chair

SCOTLAND’S former top civil servant will be appointed chair of Edinburgh Airport once its takeover is completed next month.

Sir John Elvidge, who was permanent secretary to the Scottish Government for seven years until 2010, has been named as the new airport boss by Global Infrastructure Partners, which last month won the auction for the airport with an £807 million bid.

Sir John retired from his £185,000-a-year government post in June 2010 after accruing a pension pot of £1.7 million.

He received a tax-free payment of £225,000 plus an annual pension of £75,000.

He takes up his new role on June 1, subject to approval from the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments, which advises on appointments taken up by former civil servants within two years of them leaving their posts.