The board of the CMI has commenced a recruitment process for a new chair following Sandy Begbie’s decision to step down from the role. 

Sandy Begbie CBE said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed the last 3 years and being involved with the development of CMI.  I do feel we have achieved a lot over this period including strengthening the Board, navigating our way through the Covid-19 crisis, restructuring the management team, developed plans for a new building as our new home for the next stage of our development and commenced a strategic review of the Edinburgh International Film Festival.  I am delighted Atholl Duncan has agreed to step up into an interim Chair role and I look forward to continuing to being available to Ken and the team.”

Atholl Duncan, Chair of the CMI’s Audit and Risk Committee, will become Interim Chair and lead the appointment process: “Sandy has done a great job. His skills as a Chair and his business acumen have advanced the organisation immensely, while balancing the competing priorities of the charity in a highly effective way. I now look forward to leading the search for his successor at a moment of big challenges and considerable opportunities for the Film Festival and the Filmhouse cinemas.”

Ken Hay, CEO of the CMI said: “My personal thanks to Sandy for all that he has done as chair. He brought a clarity of thought and a calm approach in addressing the challenges the organisation has faced, not least navigating the impacts of Covid-19 on the charity over the last year.”

For full information on the recruitment process for the role of chair of the CMI, please see here.