Sandy Begbie to step down after six years leading Scottish Financial Enterprise

Sandy Begbie, one of the Scottish financial community’s highest profile figures, is to step down as chief executive of industry body Scottish Financial Enterprise.

Begbie has informed the SFE board that he intends to step down from his role by next summer’s annual general meeting.

He was appointed chief executive in October 2020, following a career that included senior roles at Tesco Bank, Aegon, Standard Life, ScottishPower and Royal Bank of Scotland. Begbie has led SFE through a period of significant growth, including delivery of Scotland’s Global Investment Summit last October.

Sandy Begbie has been chief executive of SFE since October 2020. Picture: Chris Watt Photography

Begbie said: “It has been an honour and a privilege to be CEO of Scottish Financial Enterprise for over six years. I was asked by the board to lead the organisation into its next stage of development, modernise the way it operated and ensure SFE became one of the most influential trade bodies in Scotland and I am personally delighted with what we have delivered over the last six years.

“My decision has not been taken lightly but I feel, after what will be almost seven years, that it is time to pass over the opportunity to someone new, who can bring a fresh perspective and take SFE forward into its next stage of development.”

SFE chair Sue Dawe said: “Sandy has been central to the success of SFE over the past six years, both in leading our organisation and in championing our industry with government, in the media and overseas.

“The board has a well-established governance and succession process in place, and a search for Sandy’s successor is now underway. In the meantime, Sandy and the board remain fully focused on delivering our strategy, with Sandy continuing to oversee the delivery of our major events in the first half of next year.”