June 2020
Reappointment of Non-Executive Directors of the Board of David MacBrayne Limited
The Minister for Energy, Connectivity and the Islands, Paul Wheelhouse MSP, today announced the reappointment of Susan Browell and Michael Comerford as Non-Executive Directors of the Board of David MacBrayne Limited.
Reappointments
Susan Browell is a board level HR Professional with over 30 years’ strategic and operational experience gained in public, private and non-profit organisations in the UK with some international experience. She is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and has been responsible for change programmes, consultancy projects, management training and leadership development for a variety of organisations in the UK and overseas. Ms Browell has also authored books, book chapters and articles and is currently a Public Interest Member for the Institute of Chartered Accountants Scotland. She was a Non-Executive Director for the Scottish Prison Service and a Trustee of Diabetes UK. She has been a regular passenger of CALMAC for over 30 years.
Michael Comerford originally trained as a Naval Architect and has over 30 years’ experience in shipbuilding, shipping, offshore energy and logistics, starting his career with Lloyd’s Register of Shipping. He has held industry leadership positions focussing on asset integrity and asset management, organisational competence, and operational excellence with Bureau Veritas, Petrofac Ltd and most recently in a consultancy role with the Global Offshore Wind Division of the Danish state utility DONG Energy. He served as a Regional Director for Scotland and Northern Ireland of the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and subsequently on its main Board as Director of Strategy and Communications. Prior to this he was managing Director of Lithgow’s Ltd Marine Division comprising four shipyards and a ship design consultancy. He is a Chartered Engineer (C.Eng), a Member of the Royal Institution of Naval Architects (MRINA), an Associate Fellow of the Nautical Institute (AFNI) and an RYA/MCA commercially-endorsed yacht master and instructor.
The reappointments are regulated by the Ethical Standards Commissioner.
Length of Term, Remuneration and Time Commitment
The reappointment is for three years and runs from 1 December 2019 until 30 November 2022. Non-Executive Directors receive £320.00 per day for a time commitment of up to three days per month.
Other Ministerial Appointments
Miss Browell and Mr Comerford do not hold any other Ministerial 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.
Mr Comerford canvassed votes on behalf of the remain campaign during the BREXIT referendum: telephone canvassing of voters in London.
Miss Browell has had no political activity in the last five years.
David MacBrayne Limited
With over 160 years’ experience, David MacBrayne Limited (DML) is one of Scotland’s longest continually running businesses, and one of Scotland’s largest logistics companies. A multi-award winning ferry operator, harbour and ship management specialist, it employs around 1500 people with an annual turnover of approximately £200 million. It transports more than five million passengers annually and operates 25 ports within the UK. Recent successes include securing the £1 billion, eight year, Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract from the Scottish Government, and a £1 billion, 35 year, concession to run Marchwood Military Port, the UK's busiest military port, on Southampton Water.
The company’s mission is to provide transport and infrastructure services to communities, supporting the aims of the Scottish Government and to make a commercial return to the shareholder, the Scottish Ministers.
The vision of DML is to continue to grow as a recognised leading outsourced, international transport infrastructure and logistics services group. Duncan Mackison has recently been appointed by DML as Chief Executive. He brings a strong track record of delivering large government contracts having recently served as the managing director of Serco Defence, where he was entrusted with handling over 60 contracts in maritime, aviation and satellite services. Duncan has a remit to drive the growth and change across the group.
There current largest subsidiary company is CalMac Ferries Limited (CFL). CFL is the UK’s largest ferry operator in terms of ships and destinations served and one of the largest transport operators in Scotland. It is a multi-award winning ferry and port operation and ship management specialist providing essential lifeline services and logistical support to island and remote communities.