Shipbuilder Vic Emery will 'relish' role as new Edinburgh Trams chairman

Council leader warns of 'difficult period' ahead for tram project

A new chairman has been picked to take over at the helm of Edinburgh's tram project.

Vic Emery, 67, replaces David Mackay, who quit in November describing working on part of the project as "hell on wheels."

Emery comes from a shipbuilding industry background. He is the current chair of the Scottish Police Services Authority.

His appointment will be recommended to the City of Edinburgh Council's next full meeting on Thursday. He would become chair of Transport Initiatives Edinburgh (TIE) and Transport Edinburgh Limited (TEL), which was established to support the council's integrated transport strategy.

If councillors vote him in, he will arrive on the project in time to oversee mediation talks aiming to end a dispute between TIE and the project's contractors.

Today's Scotsman reports that Emery's salary will be "up to 55,000."

Interviews for the jobs took place on Wednesday. Emery was a unanimous choice according to council leader Jenny Dawe:

"Out of a very strong field, Vic was our unanimous choice. He has everything we need for the job - outstanding interpersonal, communication, negotiation and project management skills.

"He will provide excellent support for the chief executive of TIE and I look forward to working with him as we enter a difficult period.

"We remain absolutely committed to delivering on our vision for a clean, green and efficient transport system for Edinburgh and I'm delighted a! t the pr ospect of Vic being part of the team that helps to achieve that."

Emery said:

"I have always taken a great deal of personal satisfaction from managing major projects.

"A position as significant as this, with such a high-profile initiative, will require all the experience I have gained in the public and private sectors over many years. It's an opportunity I very much relish."


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