HIE appoints new finance director
6th June 2017

Economic and community development agency, Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has appointed a new director of finance and corporate services.
Nick Kenton joins HIE on 4 July from NHS Highland. He takes over from Forbes Duthie who retired from the post in April after 15 years with HIE.
Originally from Nottingham, Mr Kenton has spent all of his 29-year career to date working in the health service, including a seven year stint as director of Finance for NHS Shetland.
He has an honours degree in economics and politics from University College of Wales in Aberystwyth and qualified as a chartered public finance accountant.
Through his NHS roles he has experience of working closely with private, public and third sector partners, including several local authorities and the Scottish Government.
Confirming the appointment, HIE's interim chief executive Charlotte Wright said: "This is a key role for HIE. Nick Kenton brings a great deal of relevant experience to the post that will prove invaluable as we continue to use our resources as wisely as possible to maximise our impact across every part of the region."
Nick Kenton added: "I am delighted to have been appointed director of finance and corporate services at HIE and am greatly looking forward to the challenge. I have lived in the Highlands and Islands region for 13 years (firstly in Shetland and latterly in Inverness) and I am aware of the crucial role HIE plays in the well-being of the region from both an economic and community resilience point of view. It will be both a privilege and a great responsibility to be part of that."
Related Businesses
Related Articles
Two public organisations have signed a partnership agreement committing them to work together to accelerate the UK's transition to clean energy. Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and Aberdeen based Great British Energy (GBE) signed the agreement in Inverness on Thursday 31 July during a GBE visit to the region.
Figures compiled by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) show strong outturns against key targets for the agency during the 2024/25 financial year. The figures, which are subject to review by Audit Scotland before publication of HIE's annual report in November, show that the agency met or exceeded 18 of its 20 key targets.
People in the Wick area of Caithness are being invited to share their views on proposals to expand Wick Business Park. Following the successful development of phase one, Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is planning a second phase of development on land next to the existing business park.
A project to recycle waste at an aquaculture hatchery in Wester Ross has secured up to £630,290 from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). Bakkafrost Scotland limited is leading the project, which has a total investment value of more than £2.5m.
Wick Business Park has welcomed wind energy technology company ENERCON as the first occupant of one of four new units completed last year. ENERCON specialises in designing, producing, installing and servicing onshore wind turbines and has been operating in the Caithness area since 2013.
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has appointed new members to its Caithness and Sutherland team as the agency settles into its new premises and works to expand its client portfolio. Claire Wilson has joined as head of business growth and investment.
Businesses in the Highlands and Islands are invited to apply to the 2025/26 Scottish Rural Leadership Programme. The initiative is designed to empower rural business owners and senior leaders across Scotland with the skills, confidence and strategic insight needed to drive innovation and growth in their communities.
The Scottish Government has begun recruitment to appoint a new Chair for the Board of development agency Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). Applications are currently being invited through the government's public appointments website with a closing date of 7 July 2025.
Deputy First Minister, Kate Forbes, has officially opened Aurora's pioneering Renewable Energy Training Centre in Inverness - the only facility of its kind serving the Highlands. The £1.2m training centre has already demonstrated its importance to Scotland's net-zero ambitions, training to more than 1,000 people in its first year and gearing up to train more than 2,000 workers annually who will be central to the country's renewable energy future.
A multi-million pound investment is being made in one of Scotland's most strategically important ports. Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) will invest up to £24 million at Kishorn Port in the west Highlands to enhance its capacity and capabilities, with an expanded dry dock and land reclamation enabling the manufacture of floating offshore wind foundations.