Glasgow Chamber Of Commerce

Glasgow Chamber of Commerce has appointed former Destination Liverpool Director Alison McRae to the newly-created post of Projects Director.

McRae had been the brand ambassador for Liverpool since 2009, responsible for that city's positioning, and working at the highest level with Liverpool's key organisations and businesses. She was also responsible for the city's tourism development, tourist information centre network and the cruise terminal teams.

She said: "I loved my time in Liverpool, and wouldn't have left for any other place but Glasgow. I'm delighted to be coming home at an exciting time for the city and the Chamber of Commerce - with the Commonwealth Games only two years away, there is no doubt that Glasgow is the place to be at this time with massive opportunity for local businesses."

Stuart Patrick, Glasgow Chamber's chief executive, said: "Alison McRae's appointment completes the senior team after the recent promotion of Richard Muir to deputy chief executive. She brings her extensive communication, negotiation and facilitating skills to an area we have wanted to develop2.

"As projects director her role will be to maximise the impact of the Chamber and its members on the future development of the city. Where the Chamber has a role to play in helping Glasgow grow, her job will be to make sure that we put that into operation.

"We have all sorts of theoretical notions about what we could do, but the projects director will turn them into action. One example could be how we work with our members to ensure that Glasgow is known to be 'open for business'. Another example would be in the area of youth unemployment where there are lots of possibilities to work with including the Glasgow Employer Board and Glasgow City Council's initiatives. Her role will be to clarify what the Chamber's strengths are in that field; work out how we can contribute; and make sure they are delivered."

Previous to her three years in Liverpool, McRae had widespread and varied experience working on projects such as the GlobalScot Network, International Destination Management and the Austrian Tourism Investment Bank whilst running her own project management consultancy Blue Toucan. She has also worked with the Scottish Government to deliver the start up phase of Homecoming Scotland 2009; and Scottish Enterprise where she was involved in Scotland's participation in Walt Disney World's Millennium Celebrations.

She has broadcast experience, developing and presenting the Wealth Creators series for BBC Radio Scotland, on the mindset and motivation of top Scottish entrepreneurs. For a time, she also co-presented MacAulay & Co with Fred MacAulay.