Public appointment: Chair appointed to the Board of Crown Estate Scotland

The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, Mairi Gougeon MSP, today announced the appointment of Euan McVicar as Chair of the Board of Crown Estate Scotland.

Chair

Euan McVicar has been a Member of the Board of Crown Estate Scotland since 2021 and Chair of the Investment Committee since September 2022. His previous roles include a private practice career as a renewable energy lawyer; as General Counsel, Chair of the Investment Committee and a Board Member at the Green Investment Bank; and General Counsel at Ofgem. Mr McVicar is currently a senior consultant and Senior Climate Advisor at Pinsent Masons where he advises on climate and sustainability matters and is a Director in The Biggar Gin Company Limited.

Appointment

The appointment is for three years and runs from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2026.

The appointment is regulated by the Ethical Standards Commissioner.

Remuneration and time commitment

The appointment attracts remuneration of £373.92 per day for a time commitment of up to two days per week.

Other Ministerial appointments

Mr McVicar is currently a Member of the Board of Crown Estate Scotland and receives £221.42 per day for a time commitment of two days per month. He will stand down from this role when appointed Chair.

Political activity

All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity within the last five years (if there is any to be declared) to be made public.

Mr McVicar has had no political activity within the last five years.

Background

Crown Estate Scotland’s purpose is ‘investing in property, natural resources and people to generate lasting value for Scotland’. The organisation is at the heart of Scotland’s journey to net zero and has a key role to play in promoting sustainable development across a range of assets and sectors.

Crown Estate Scotland is a self-financing Statutory Public Corporation accountable to the Scottish Ministers and to the Scottish Parliament. It is responsible for managing a diverse portfolio of land and property - called the Scottish Crown Estate - including seabed, coastline, commercial property and rural estates. Revenue profits from the Scottish Crown Estate are transferred to the Scottish Consolidated Fund for public spending and capital profits are reinvested in the Estate.