Our Board

Morag McNeill was appointed interim chair in January 2022, and took on the role permanently in September 2022. She is a qualified solicitor with over 35 years’ experience as a corporate lawyer. She was a senior partner at McGrigors LLP (now part of Pinsent Masons LLP) and latterly, was General Counsel at Forth Ports plc. Morag has extensive experience in the ports and harbours sector and a strong background in corporate governance. She is Vice-Chair at Aberdeen Harbour Board, Vice-Chair at Social Investment Scotland, Deputy Chair at Heriot-Watt University and Chair of The Edinburgh Academy. Morag is also a board member at Scottish Event Campus Limited, which owns and operates the SSE Hydro, and FARE Scotland, a charity based in Easterhouse.

Kevin joined CMAL in April 2016, bringing 30 years’ experience in the port, maritime logistics and shipping industries. As director at Port of Milford Haven, a leading UK port which handles over 30 million tonnes of cargo annually, he was responsible for commercial and operational management. Between 2008 and 2011, Kevin worked as a specialist consultant, providing expert advice to maritime and shipping clients, including Dublin Port Company, Peel Ports and Stena Line. In 1996, he founded Seatruck Ferries Group, an Irish Sea ferry service specialising in freight, which he guided from start-up to a profitable business. As CEO and managing director, he oversaw an investment portfolio of eight new build freight ferries and five pre-owned ferries.

Heather Ferguson was appointed as Finance Director in November 2020. Heather has a strong financial portfolio, honed through 30 years of experience in both the private and not-for-profit sector. Before joining CMAL, Heather worked at The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons in Glasgow, where she spent six years leading their financial strategy, which included building an IT team and managing complex building renovations. Prior to this, she worked at St Andrew’s First Aid for nine years, upgrading their systems and centralising accounting processes. She has managed a charity, held Trustee positions, and is passionate about improving life for the people of Scotland. Heather is a fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.

Jim was appointed Director of Vessels at CMAL in April 2016. Jim is a Chartered Engineer; a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Naval Architects, the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science & Technology and the Institution of Engineering and Technology. Jim has over 40 years’ experience in the shipbuilding industry; working in senior management roles for shipbuilders, ship owners and design consultants.

Ramsay was appointed Director of Port Infrastructure & Planning in October 2019. He has over 25 years' experience in a broad range of engineering disciplines and joined CMAL in 2009 as a Civil Engineer. In 2012, he took up the role of Head of Civil Engineering, responsible for overseeing the delivery of all CMAL harbour maintenance and infrastructure projects. Ramsay is a Chartered Civil Engineer and a Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers; a Chartered Manager and Member of the Chartered Management Institute; a member of the Institute of Directors; and a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers in Scotland.

Graeme is a qualified marine engineer with more than 35 years’ experience working in marine and oil and gas related businesses, with a focus on vessel management and operation. He has served in a range of executive and non-executive director positions for over 14 years in various organisations, from family-owned enterprises to multi-national organisations. He is a fellow of the Institute of Directors, a Chartered Director, and a member of the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology.

Murdo MacLennan was appointed as a Non-Executive Director of the CMAL Board on 1 October 2022.

Previous Ministerial appointments include Scottish Land Fund, Bòrd Slainte Nan Eilean Siar, in both Executive and Non-Executive roles, Bòrd na Gàidhlig, Crofters Commission and was elected to the successor body, the Crofting Commission as the Commissioner for the Western Isles. Mr MacLennan brings a wealth of experience with a special interest in the areas of Board Accountability, Governance, Audit and Finance, and Public Procurement, having chaired key committees in these areas on previous Boards. In addition, he holds a Sheriffdom appointment to the Highlands and Islands Valuation Appeal Panel.

Previously he held the positions of Chair of the Western Isles Education/Business Partnership and Tigheann Innse Gall (housing association) and vice-Chair of Bethesda Home and Hospice in Stornoway.

Mr MacLennan is an islander based in Point outside Stornoway and an active crofter in both Lewis and Harris, contributing a strong, credible perspective of island interests to national fora.

Stuart Cresswell is a port industry professional who until 2023, served in a Senior Leadership role at Associated British Ports (ABP). This included full operational responsibility for all of ABP’s port operations in Scotland including the Port of Troon. He is currently a Non-Executive Director of the Scottish Chamber of Commerce and Industry and a retained advisor for ABP on their new Freeport development at Nigg. His previous roles include immediate past Chair of the British Ports Association's Scottish Ports Committee, Non-Executive Director of the Scottish Shipping Benevolent Association, and ex-President of the Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce. Stuart is also co-founder of TimberLINK which has shipped timber from ports and jetties across the West Coast of Scotland. Stuart holds an MBA from Glasgow Caledonian University.

Mark Tarry has worked for 33 years at executive level across the rail industry. Starting as a Finance Graduate, before qualifying as a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants. He has built a career in the rail industry and has extensive experience of leadership across sponsorship, operations and maintenance, customer service and supply chain and logistics, holding several executive appointments. Having recently retired from rail, Mark is building a non-executive portfolio with a particular focus and strength in the role of Chair of Audit and Risk Committees across multiple sectors including, Health, Education, and Skills.