Members reappointed to the Board of Highlands and Islands Enterprise

24th January 2026

The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic, Kate Forbes MSP, today announced the reappointments of Simon Cotton and David Wilson as Members of the Board of Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

Simon Cotton has over a decade of experience of running textile manufacturing businesses in the HIE region, including Johnstons of Elgin and Macnaughton Holdings. He has sixteen years of experience running manufacturing businesses in Scotland and internationally. He has previously served as a member of the Enterprise and Skills Strategic Board and was Chair of the Scottish Textiles Industry Leadership Group. He is based In Moray, where he has lived for the last eleven years.

David Wilson has extensive experience of working in Government on economic matters, including close working with Highlands and Islands Enterprise. During a 30 year career in the Scottish Government, he held Director-level roles on Economic Development, Business, Energy and Climate Change, and Fisheries. His early career was as an economist, with a focus on economic development and regulation of energy. Outside the Scottish Government, he was a Commissioner on the Scottish Fiscal Commission and Deputy Director General for Scotland at the Office of Electricity Regulation (OFFER). He is currently Chair of Consumer Scotland, the statutory advocate for consumers in Scotland.

Reappointments
Simon Cotton's reappointment will be for 3 years and will run from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2029. David Wilson’s reappointment will be for 3 years and will run from 1 May 2026 to 30 April 2029.

The reappointments are regulated by the Ethical Standards Commissioner.

Remuneration
The reappointments are part-time and attracts a remuneration of £12,570 for a time commitment of 2.5 days per month.

Other ministerial appointments
David Wilson is Chair of the Consumer Scotland board for which he receives remuneration of £320 per day, for a time commitment of 50 days per year.

Simon Cotton does not hold any other public appointments.

Political activity
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.

Simon Cotton and David Wilson have had no political activity within the last five years.