New chair of Audit Scotland appointed

Professor Alan Alexander will take on the role from 1 April 2020

Professor Alan Alexander has been appointed as the new chair of Audit Scotland.

Alexander, who is currently a non-executive member of the independent public auditor, will take over from the current chair Ian Leitch on 1 April 2020.

Alexander holds an OBE, FRSE and FAcSS and is Emeritus Professor of Local and Public Management at the University of Strathclyde.

He was also general secretary of The Royal Society of Edinburgh between 2013 and 2018.

In addition to his non-executive membership of Audit Scotland, he currently holds one other public appointment, as the chair of the University of St Andrews management school’s advisory council.

The chair role will involve 32 days’ work per annum on a daily rate of £410.94, which is equivalent to £13,150 per year.

Alexander’s appointment will coincide with other major changes at Audit Scotland.

On 30 June 2020 the Auditor General for Scotland, Caroline Gardner, will complete her eight-year term of office.

And on 30 September 2020, non-executive member Heather Logan will finish in her position.

Audit Scotland says Alexander will “provide continuity to the organisation through the period of change in its membership”.

The Scottish P CA will begin a recruitment exercise for two new non-executive members “shortly”, Audit Scotland says.

The Scottish Parliament will conduct a separate recruitment exercise for a new Auditor General for Scotland in 2020.