Chief executive says he'll take "a short break"

The chief executive of a Scottish environmental charity is to step down.

Derek Robertson has led Keep Scotland Beautiful (KSB) for more than eight years – but has now said he is ready to take “a short break”.

Tom Brock, who has been a trustee with KSB for over 10 years, will temporarily step down from the board and has agreed to act as interim chief executive while someone is recruited to take the charity forward.

Board chairman Lindsay Montgomery said: “In the last eight and a half years Derek has taken the charity through a period of change; engaged proactively with our partners, funders and key stakeholders; championed the role of the third sector; and brought new opportunities for engagement.

“We thank Derek for his positive contribution and wish him well for the future."

Robertson said: “After nearly nine years at Keep Scotland Beautiful, I regard this as the appropriate time for me to stand down and make way for a new leader to take the organisation on to the next level.

“There is no doubt that it has been a privilege to serve as its chief executive for so long. There are many more things that I would like to achieve professionally, and therefore I am looking forward to taking up a new opportunity in 2020, after a short break.

“Keep Scotland Beautiful is a great organisation that is built around fantastic people. I'd like to wish my successor and the organisation all the very best for the future."