Stewart Harris, sportscotland CEO, is stepping down from his role at the national agency for sport it was announced today, Wednesday 29 June.
Harris, who has enjoyed a lifelong involvement in sport, has been chief executive since November 2005 and will retire in October this year.
In his 16 years in the role, he has overseen the launch of Sport for Life the agency’s corporate strategy which shapes the vision for sport in Scotland.
He said: “It has been an enormous privilege to have had the opportunity to work in sport for the bulk of my career, from my early days in education to leading the National Agency for Sport as Chief Executive for the past 16 years.
“It has been a fantastic journey working alongside some brilliant colleagues and partners. Our aim has always been to be a world-class organisation and long may that continue.
“We are, hopefully, finally through the worst of the pandemic and now feels like the right time to hand over the leadership baton. I will look forward to progressing areas of specific work before leaving the organisation at the end of October.”
Harris brought a wealth of experience and passion for sport to the role having worked first in education then in the sport of basketball, and significant experience of the many partners involved in the sport sector.
Chair of sportscotland Mel Young said: “Stewart has made an amazing contribution to sport in Scotland in both his role here at sportscotland and in his career beforehand. I have had the pleasure of working alongside him firstly as a board member and then as chair of sportscotland and I know how much he will be missed by everyone.
“We both have always believed in the power of sport to change lives and Stewart brought that immense passion with him every day. He should be proud of his achievements in his time here and we wish him all the very best for a long and happy retirement.”
The recruitment process for a new chief executive will begin later in the summer.
