Greenock Medical Aid Society has appointed a new Chairman at its recently held AGM. He is Alastair MacNish OBE, a resident of Gourock, who takes over from Ken MacMillan who has been Chairman of the Society for the past seven years.
In his farewell speech to Life Members at the Society’s AGM, Ken said “It is time for me to step away from the Chair after seven years. When I took this job over I stepped into a charitable business in a sector of which I had little knowledge and I have found it fascinating, educational and challenging in turns. It has been a great privilege to work with the superb team of people who make up the Society and it has been a particular privilege to represent this organisation which is generally seen in our community as delivering the highest standards of service to our residents and tenants. I have paid tribute to our Executives and staff and to the volunteers but I would also express my personal thanks to all of the people in the wider Inverclyde community who regard our Society so fondly and actively support all of our endeavours”.
Ken, a resident of Greenock and a local solicitor, is well known in the Inverclyde business community and has played a key role in many local organisations. He was a Partner in Greenock based solicitors Patten & Prentice from 1977 to 2013, Past Dean of the Greenock Faculty of Procurators, Past President of Greenock Chamber of Commerce, Past Preses of the Innerkip Society and Past President of Greenock Round Table
The Society’s new Chairman, Alastair MacNish, equally has a very distinguished business background which will be to the benefit of the Society. Alastair is the former Chief Executive of South Lanarkshire Council and former Chair of the Accounts Commission for Scotland and Audit Scotland. He was Finance Convener of Greenock Medical Aid Society for five years between 2000 and 2005 and was awarded an OBE for services in the public sector in the 2009 New Years Honours List.
Alastair acknowledged the importance of his position as Chairman of the Society when he said “The Society’s role in our community is a vital one particularly given the ongoing difficult economic circumstances we are experiencing. I will give my total commitment in helping ensure the excellent work of the Society under the stewardship of Ken, an outstanding staff group and a remarkable group of volunteers continues to deliver the highest standard of care and quality of life possible for each resident”.
Charles Young, Chief Executive of the Society paid tribute to Ken MacMillan’s Chairmanship over the past seven years when he said “Everyone associated with the Society whether it be residents, family members or staff, has hugely benefitted from Ken’s input and support. The Society has further developed under Ken’s Chairmanship due to his wide business experience and strong local business connections”.
Charles welcomed the incoming Chairman, Alastair MacNish, when he said “We are very fortunate to have a new Chairman of the calibre of Alastair who, like Ken, has a very distinguished business background and, in particular, has a good understanding of the workings of local authorities. Alastair is well known to the Society when he was Finance Convener from 2000 to 2005 and it will be good to work with him again. The care sector faces challenging times because of Government and Local Authority financial constraints coupled with the challenges and opportunities presented by changes in demographics. It is therefore heartening that Alastair has freely given of his time and accepted the role of Chairman to ensure that the Society benefits from his wide business experience that should help steer it through the changing market conditions that lie ahead”.