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Scotland in the USA
30/10/2007
Senior Civil Servant Robin Naysmith is to take over from First Secretary Michael Kellet, in the post now designated as Scottish Government Counsellor in North America.
Based in Washington DC, this role will be to build on the work done by previous First Secretaries and promote a joined up approach which ensures that when customers in the US and Canada engage with the Government they see Scotland and not a collection of different agencies.
The Scottish Government Counsellor will have overall responsibility for delivering the Government's strategic objectives in the US and Canada. His duties will include managing diplomatic relationships and coordinating the work of Scottish Development International (SDI), VisitScotland and other Scottish Government agencies operating in North America. Mr Naysmith will support Scottish Ministers and other representatives visiting North America and work to promote business, tourism and cultural exchanges for the benefit of Scotland.
North America continues to be one of our most important export markets and the Scottish Government is determined to strengthen economic, educational and cultural relations and ensure that Scotland's interests are represented as effectively as possible.
Mr Naysmith takes over from Michael Kellet, currently First Secretary for Scottish Affairs in Washington, who is returning to take up a post in Edinburgh.
Mr Naysmith will take up his post as Scottish Government Counsellor, North America on 26 November 2007.
Edinburgh born, Robin Naysmith spent several years at the Department of Health in Whitehall where he held a range of policy posts, before joining the Senior Civil Service in 1995 as Head of the Medical Education Unit. He returned to Edinburgh in 1998 where he worked initially on health and HR policy issues before moving to Glasgow to head up the former Scottish Executive's Energy and Telecommunications Division. After a spell as Head of Cabinet Secretariat he was appointed by Jack McConnell as Principal Private Secretary to the First Minister in October 2005 and has continued to serve the current First Minister.