Chief Executive appointed at The Promise Scotland

Following a competitive recruitment process, The Promise Scotland - the independent body established to drive the change demanded by the Independent Care Review - has appointed Fraser McKinlay as its first Chief Executive.

Fraser joins The Promise Scotland from his own consulting business where he has worked with a range of clients in the public and third sectors, specialising in strategy, leadership and change.

He is a former Controller of Audit and Director, Performance Audit and Best Value at Audit Scotland. Most of Fraser’s career has been spent challenging and supporting public services to improve outcomes for citizens.

Fiona Duncan, Chair of The Promise Scotland said:

I am delighted that Fraser McKinlay will be joining The Promise Scotland as its first Chief Executive. He is an outstanding individual, and I know that he has both the professional skills and the personal values to be an effective leader for The Promise Scotland. Most importantly, I know he shares the impatience of so many to see the transformational change needed to #KeepThePromise.

Fraser McKinlay said:

I feel an immense sense of both pride and responsibility in taking on this role as the first Chief Executive at The Promise Scotland. I will be joining a fantastic team, and I know that by working together with partners and with people across Scotland we have the opportunity to do something special.

I will draw on all of my experience in helping to make public services work better to drive forward the hard and complex programmes of change that are taking place across Scotland. It is not easy, it won’t be quick, but nor can it wait. Now more than ever, we simply must deliver for babies, infants, children, young people, families and care experienced adults across Scotland.

The Promise Oversight Board said:

The Promise Oversight Board is delighted that Fraser McKinlay has been appointed as Chief Executive of The Promise Scotland. His unique mix of skills and experience will assist us as we seek to hold Scotland to account in its progress in work to Keep The Promise. We look forward to working closely with him.

The Promise Oversight Board is an independent body which oversees and scrutinises progress with secretariat support provided by The Promise Scotland.

New non-executive directors also announced to support work to keep the promise

Fraser will join six newly appointed non-executive directors to The Promise Scotland’s Board of Directors. The new non-executive directors of The Promise Scotland that join Fiona Duncan and Jackie Brock are:

• Anna Black, a General Practitioner and is a non-executive director of Public Health Scotland
• David Garbutt, Chair of NHS Education for Scotland
• Sally Loudon, Chief Executive of COSLA
• Philip Rycroft, Consultant and former civil servant
• Jim Savege, Chief Executive of Aberdeenshire Council
• Victoria Underwood, Head of Leadership, Governance and Research for the College Development Network.

Fiona Duncan added:

This combination of non-executive directors brings unsurpassed knowledge and experience to The Promise Scotland ensuring it is well positioned to provide the support and challenge needed. Furthermore, the lived experience of the ‘care system’ from amongst the directors provides a perspective of paramount importance as Scotland seeks to realise the vision of the Independent Care Review by 2030.

The appointment of Fraser as the Chief Executive and the new non-executive directors are an important milestone as The Promise Scotland continues to focus on what really matters, driving systemic change so that Scotland is a country where everybody can grow up with safe, loving relationships.