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For release Monday 1st June 2009

Monday 1st June 2009

APPOINTMENT OF A NEW NON-EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBER TO THE SCOTTISH HOUSING REGULATOR

The Scottish Housing Regulator has appointed a new Non-Executive Board member: Ms Ray Macfarlane. Ms Macfarlane is a qualified solicitor.  From 2001 until 2008 she worked as a senior director for HBOS and Bank of Scotland.  She was Head of Community Investment in HBOS, where she led four teams responsible for corporate responsibility, sponsorship, community and Government relations.  Prior to this she was a senior director in business development in Bank of Scotland and Managing Director of Scottish Enterprise, where she worked for nine years.

Ms Macfarlane is an experienced project manager, specialising in commercial finance, corporate investment, property development and urban regeneration.  She also holds non executive appointments with Scottish arts organisations.

Ms Macfarlane will bring experience of working with a range of public bodies, business, investment and lending expertise to the Scottish Housing Regulator.

Karen Watt, Chief Executive of the Scottish Housing Regulator, said:

“I am delighted to welcome Ray Macfarlane as a new Non-Executive Board member. The range and depth of her expertise will help to ensure the agency is effectively governed and that we remain focused on our primary purpose of protecting the interests of tenants and other consumer groups”.

NOTES TO NEWS EDITORS

1. The Scottish Housing Regulator came into operation on 1 April 2008. It operates the powers and duties of the regulation of social housing which are set out in the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001.

The Scottish Housing Regulator is an arm’s length executive agency of the Scottish Government. It has operational independence, while being accountable to Scottish Ministers and through them to the Scottish Parliament for the standard of its work.

2. The main purpose of the Regulation Board is to assist the Chief Executive in her role to provide effective leadership, direction, support and guidance to the regulation agency. Full details about the Regulation Board and the Non Executive Board members can be found on the Scottish Housing Regulator’s website at www.scottishhousingregulator.gov.uk.

3. The appointment runs until 31 March 2010. Non Executive Board Members attend quarterly board meetings.

Iain Muirhead

Head of Policy and Corporate Services

0141 271 3760