MACKIE'S of Scotland has appointed a new managing director.

Stuart Common has secured the role after working at the family business for more than 16 years at the Aberdeenshire firm, latterly as its sales and marketing director.

Former managing director Mac Mackie, 56, takes on a new position as executive chairman.

Mac, who took on the MD role in 1998 to succeed his father and Mackie’s founder, Maitland Mackie, said: “Stuart has already become an integral part of our senior management team over the last decade and I’m confident that he’s the right person to step into our MD role.

“He embodies the culture that underpins everything we do, not to mention his close ties with our largest supermarket, wholesale and foodservice trade accounts, many of which he personally established and built up.

“We’re putting in place the foundations for the business to continue to flourish. Stuart is young enough to thrive in the role for many years to come and will drive our agenda of growth, development and change.”

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Stuart said: “Mackie’s is a company that refuses to stand still, which is a huge source of motivation for me and my colleagues.

“I’ve enjoyed being part of a management team with such clear commitment to change, growth and internal investment to build and prepare for the future. The shared vision of continued growth and diversification is testament to the leadership that we have had in place since our inception as an ice cream business in 1986 and chocolate maker since 2016.

“It is a huge privilege to be entrusted with this role at what is one of Scotland – and the UK’s – best known family businesses."

The company produces luxury ice cream at the fifth-generation Aberdeenshire farm from ‘sky to scoop’, with wind and sun-powered renewable energy powering the dairy where it makes its ice cream using fresh milk and cream from its own herd.