Three new members have been appointed to the Board of Scotland's tax authority, Revenue Scotland.
The appointment of previous Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament (2016-21) Rt Hon Ken Macintosh, digital transformation and emerging technologies expert Idong Usoro, and Robert MacIntosh, Professor of Strategic Management and Pro Vice Chancellor for Business and Law at Northumbria University, have today been announced by the Minister for Public Finance, Planning and Community Wealth, Tom Arthur.
They will join Revenue Scotland's existing Board members Aidan O’Carroll (Chair), Jean Lindsay, Martin McEwen and Simon Cunningham on 1 June 2022, with Lynn Bradley and John Whiting CBE stepping down on 30 June.
Welcoming the appointments, Mr O’Carroll said the new appointments would strengthen the depth and range of experience of the Board in key areas of strategic importance.
He said:
"Rt Hon Ken Macintosh is a trusted figure at the heart of public life in Scotland with the proven judgement and the creative, persuasive, and communicative skills which will be a real asset to Revenue Scotland.”
“Idong Usoro has a wide-ranging background in technical solutions and innovation and will bring expert knowledge to Revenue Scotland. This will be immensely valuable for leading our organisation into the future while we aim to release the power of technology and our data fully.”
“Having done extensive research in strategy development and execution with over 100 organisations, Professor Robert MacIntosh’s expertise will significantly support the work of Revenue Scotland and its future direction.”
“It will be a great privilege working with Idong, Robert and Ken. I would also like to take the opportunity to thank our departing Board members Lynn and John for all their excellent work and advice over the years which has been crucial in building Revenue Scotland’s foundations and making it the trusted authority that it is today.”
Elaine Lorimer, Chief Executive of Revenue Scotland, added:
”We are delighted to welcome our three new Board members to Revenue Scotland. Their experience will be very important in guiding us to deliver on our current vision and ambition and in looking ahead. The team at Revenue Scotland are very much looking forward to working with such an experienced and skilled Board on the delivery and development of revenue services in Scotland.”
The appointments will be for three years and will run from 1 June 2022 to 31 May 2025.
The appointments are regulated by the Ethical Standards Commissioner.
Notes to the editor
About the appointments
Biographies
Rt Hon Ken Macintosh was the Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament until stepping down from elected politics in 2021. He began his working life with the BBC, serving as a senior producer and broadcast journalist on a range of news and current affairs programmes. He was elected to the first Scottish Parliament in 1999 and held a number of front bench roles before being chosen as Speaker in 2016. He used his creative, communicative, and governance skills to introduce a programme of Parliamentary reform, and to steer the institution through the heat of the Brexit and constitutional debates as well as the difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Ken is a member of the Privy Council as well as a Trustee of several charities. He is married to Claire and the couple live in Busby with their six children.
Robert MacIntosh is Professor of Strategic Management and Pro Vice Chancellor for Business and Law at Northumbria University. He has a PhD in engineering and his work focuses on strategy and change with senior leadership teams. He has worked with over 100 organisations and has significant experience as a chair and trustee. His expertise in leadership and strategic change will support the work of Revenue Scotland. He is a Fellow of the Institution for Engineering and Technology, the Academy of Social Sciences and the British Academy of Management. He is currently the chair of the Chartered Association of Business Schools and was formerly the chair of the social care charity Turning Point Scotland.
Idong Usoro is trained in computer science with industry certifications in enterprise architecture. He has over 10 years of designing and implementing digital transformations, security strategies, policy, enterprise architecture functions, and technical solutions at executive level. This has spanned working in Europe and North America in enterprise solutions, consultancy and IT leadership roles with central, local government, universities and multinational companies. Idong’s extensive background in the University sector and commercially on technical projects, provides a broad perspective on emerging technologies and a strong focus on innovation. His research work has engaged both private and public organisations, innovation agencies that including UKRI/Innovate UK, Cancer Research UK, European innovation/research institutes and the European Commission. Idong currently serves on as an Executive Board Trustee with the Abbeyfield Society and works as a technical consultant to private technology organisations in the immersive solutions, construction, legal, Fintech and life sciences sectors.
Appointment details
-
The appointments are part-time and attract a remuneration of £299.52 for a time commitment of up to three days per month.
-
Rt Hon Ken Macintosh, Professor Robert MacIntosh and Idong Usoro do not hold any other public appointments.
-
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.
-
Rt Hon Ken Macintosh served as an MSP, but left the Labour party in 2016 after being elected by colleagues across the chamber as Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament. He stood down from Parliament in 2021.
-
Robert MacIntosh and Idong Usoro have had no political activity within the last five years.