David Middleton, Head of Scotland Office, has been appointed as the new Transport Scotland Chief Executive, succeeding Dr Malcolm Reed when he retires in February.

Mr Middleton, 52, has a long and established career within the civil service, having joined the then Scottish Office from Glasgow University in 1978.

Mr Middleton's senior civil service appointments included key posts in housing policy and in 1996-97 he was head of the Policy, Finance and Strategy division of the Roads Directorate of the Scottish Office. He was head of Personnel in the Scottish Office in the lead up to Devolution in 1999.


At Director level since 1999, his posts have covered Local Government, Europe and Agriculture. Following a period on secondment to University of Highlands and Islands (Millennium Institute) in 2006-07, David became Director of the Scotland Office in the UK Government in October 2006. He lives in Edinburgh and is married with one daughter.

Mr Middleton said: "I am delighted to accept this opportunity to help lead an important part of the Scottish Government’s transport programme that plays a key role in increasing sustainable economic growth and I look forward to the challenges this will bring."

Current Chief Executive, Dr Malcolm Reed, said: "This is an exciting time for transport in Scotland, with significant investment and a programme of major infrastructure improvements and I wish David well in taking this work forward with Transport Scotland."

(GK/JM)