THE quango for promoting Gaelic has become embroiled in a conflict of interest row over the appointment of its chief executive.
Shona MacLennan was given the top job at Bòrd na Gàidhlig by an interview panel that included her boss from the college she was employed at.
A spokesman for the Scottish Conservatives said: “When any appointments of this nature are made transparency is imperative. When that kind of transparency is lacking, people begin to lose faith in the whole appointments process. It would appear there are questions to answer here and we hope the organisation is in a position to do just that.”
Bòrd na Gàidhlig was set up in 2003 to promote Gaelic and increase the number of speakers in the minority language.
In 2015, the quango lost its chief executive after only three months, which prompted a professor who advised the Government to set up Bord Na Gaidhlig to say the board had “lost its way”.
Chair Allan MacDonald last year announced that MacLennan, who held a senior position at Skye’s Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, was the new CEO. She had previously been on the Bòrd na Gàidhlig board.
The chair said at the time: “We are fortunate that she brings with her a wealth of experience in the Public Sector including governance, strategic planning and community development and growth.”
However, an individual contacted the Sunday Herald with concerns about the hiring process and the interview panel, which had had representatives from the Government and Bòrd na Gàidhlig.
On the panel were MacDonald, civil servant Douglas Ansdell, freelance broadcaster Jo MacDonald and Boyd Robertson, the Principal at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig who was MacLennan’s manager at the time of her application.
The insider said: “How can the appointments process have been a fair and open one if the current boss of one of the applicants sits on the panel choosing who will become the next Bòrd na Gàidhlig Chief Executive Officer?”
Robertson was present at discussions involving MacLennan’s application, but a quango spokesman said the hiring of an independent observer to oversee the process ensured fairness and transparency for all candidates.
The Principal told this newspaper that he suggested standing down from the panel, but that fellow members felt that such a move was unnecessary.
A spokesman for Bòrd na Gàidhlig said: “Panel members were appointed before applications were invited for the post, and Shona MacLennan subsequently made it very clear that Professor Boyd Robertson was her manager at the time of her application. Throughout the recruitment of a new Ceannard (CEO) at Bòrd na Gàidhlig, the selection panel engaged the services of an independent observer.
“This role ensured that both a fair and transparent process for all candidates was followed at each step of the recruitment, including the observer being present at access conversations between the Board’s Chairman and shortlisted candidates, and the final interviews themselves. Professor Robertson was present while Ms MacLennan’s application was being discussed. The independent observer recorded his satisfaction that the appointment of Shona MacLennan took place as the outcome of a fair and transparent process.”
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