Highland Council appoints Chief Officers

30th January 2025

The Highland Council has appointed Ruth Fry as Chief Officer - Human Resources and Communications and Paul Reid as Chief Officer – Facilities and Fleet Management.

The appointment of Ruth Fry completes the new senior management structure of the Council's Corporate service cluster under the leadership of Allan Gunn, Assistant Chief Executive – Corporate.

Paul Reid joins the Council’s Place service cluster under the leadership of Malcolm MacLeod, Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

As previously intimated in Highland Council’s budget plan for 2024/25, a new senior management structure is being implemented following approval by the Council on 14 March 2024. It reconfigures the senior management team into two layers, rather than three and brings Highland Council into line with other benchmarked authorities.

Convener of the Council Cllr Bill Lobban said: "I would like to congratulate Ruth and Paul on their appointments and welcome them to The Highland Council. They bring with them a wealth of experience and leadership to the Council."

Leader of the Council, Cllr Raymond Bremner added: “With these latest appointments I am pleased to see the Council’s senior management structure progressing with continued pace. The new structure is forecasted to initially deliver savings of £370,000 as part of the budget savings agreed by Council in February 2024, and it is anticipated that savings will eventually equate to around 20% of senior management team costs as part of a more streamlined management structure.”

Ruth Fry is currently NHS Highland’s Head of Communications and Engagement, with extensive public sector experience and is expected to start with Highland Council on 28 April 2025. Ruth has previously worked for Edinburgh, Clackmannanshire and Perth and Kinross councils in communications and performance roles. For the past four years she has lived and worked in the Highlands, leading staff and public communications and engagement for NHS Highland.

Paul Reid is currently employed by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde as Head of Transport and Travel and has been there since 2017. Prior to his current role he worked with Aberdeen City Council and private sector organisations including Stagecoach in Fleet Compliance and Management. Paul has an MSC in Logistics and Supply Chain Management and has extensive experience in ensuring efficient and safe operations. Paul is expected to start with Highland Council in early May and is looking forward to relocating to the Highlands with his family.