Colin Tennant is the new chief executive of the Scottish Stone Liaison Group (SSLG), replacing Alan McKinney, who has headed the organisation since 1998 and who is now retiring.

Under the direction of Alan, the SSLG, which brings together the professionals and trades of the stone industry, landowners and councils, grant givers and receivers and a diverse collection of other interested parties, has enjoyed some notable successes in raising the profile and status of the industry in Scotland.

The most recent success was the publication of the report Safeguarding Glasgow\'s Stone-built Heritage, which was the conclusion of what is known as \'The Glasgow Project\' (see the August issue of Natural Stone Specialist). As Alan said at the launch of the report in Glasgow City Chambers, it was a "very satisfying conclusion" to his working life.

Colin Tennant moved in to work alongside Alan for a handover period at the beginning of this month (September). The official handover date was the beginning of October, although Alan was planning to return to accompany Colin to a meeting with Scottish Enter-prise Glasgow in October to discuss the report of the Glasgow project with them as Alan was closely involved in it.

Colin, who has a degree in geography from Dundee Uni-versity and a post-graduate diploma in conservation, was previously manager of the Stirling City Heritage Trust. Stirling City Heritage Trust has been involved in a grant-giving capacity with the renovation of many stone buildings and Colin says that means he is moving on to the SSLG with "a lot of experience on the ground".

He says he took the job because he was looking for a change. "It\'s an opportunity to broaden my experience and bring more of my skills to the fore," he says.