The Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport (ICFGF) has announced that chief executive officer Calum MacPherson will step down in June.
He has been with the organisation for the past three years, guiding the Green Freeport through its critical set-up and leading it into its delivery phase.
While it is understood Mr Macpherson’s decision to depart the role came before recent developments, the past few months have been a turbulent time for the ICFGF.
In March, the UK government rejected a £1.5 billion investment proposal for Ardersier by Ming Yang citing concerns about national security regarding the Chinese firm.
Then a week ago one of the main movers behind the Green Freeport, Joanne Allday of the Port of Cromarty Firth, warned the opportunity of it could be lost “this year” due to government.
The search for his successor is underway and in the interim ICFGF will be led by Alison Wilson, who currently holds the post of Investment and Development Manager.
Mr MacPherson will remain in the Highlands and is leaving to take up a role in the property and construction sector, an industry in which he has extensive experience.
He earned a considerable amount of respect in his time leading the ICFGF and won the Business Leader of the Year award at the Highland Business Awards in 2024.
During his tenure, Mr MacPherson and his team participated in efforts that secured the £890 million that has already been committed to the freeport.
He also built the team to deliver freeport’s objectives of investment, job creation, skills development and social inclusion, over the past three years that included:
• Funding or investment committed totalling £890 million
• Active investor interest across a range of energy and life science sub sectors
• Sites progressing, for example completion of Ardersier first phase development, Sumitomo factory secured and nearing completion with 150+ on site jobs, Inverness Campus progressing with the Global HQ under construction
• £25 million in seed funding for local infrastructure projects and Industrial Strategy Zone funding of over £250,000 for sites near Nigg and Port of Inverness
• Establishment of the Retained Non Domestic Rates fund which will reinvest an estimated £547 million in jobs, skills and infrastructure projects in the Highlands from new businesses set up within ICFGF
• Real supply chain development underway with examples of local impact – eg 113 local businesses part of the supply chain for the Ardersier development work
Mr MacPherson said: “As we move into the implementation phase of the Green Freeport, the time is right to pass the baton on to a new leader who, with the backing of the highly experienced board and team at ICFGF, will build on the success to date.
“I would like to thank my board, colleagues and stakeholders for all the support over the last few years.”
The chairman of ICFGF, Jim Smith, said: “Over the last three years we have worked with partners across the region, as well as the Scottish and UK governments, to secure and establish Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport.
“Our initiative has already made a significant impact, helping to position the region as a world-class hub for offshore renewables. Following the approval of our Full Business Case in the autumn of last year, we have now moved firmly into the delivery phase focused on bringing more long-term, well-paid jobs and investment to the Highlands.
“Calum has played an instrumental role in the journey so far and in the success the Green Freeport has achieved to date. We are sorry to see him leave the organisation, but we respect his decision to seek a new career challenge. He departs with the Board’s sincere thanks and very best wishes for the future.”
ICFGF was selected by the UK and Scottish governments to become one of two Scottish green freeports in 2023. It offers tax and customs incentives to attract investment – such as the £350 million investment by Sumitomo Electric UK in a subsea cable at Maraen Port of Nigg – that will establish the Highlands as a European hub for the development of offshore renewable energy. Over the next 20 years, ICFGF aims to attract £6.6 billion in investment, and support 11,300 jobs.
