ScotlandIS chief executive Karen Meechan to step down

ScotlandIS Chief Executive Officer Karen Meechan will step down on 29 May 2026 after 22 years with the Scottish technology industry body.

Nicola Taylor, the current Chief Operating Officer, will become Acting Chief Executive Officer from 29 May until a permanent successor is appointed. The organisation will begin recruiting a new leader in April and will consider both internal and external candidates.

Meechan has led ScotlandIS as Chief Executive Officer since 2021. Before taking the top role, she was Head of Operations from 2004 and became Chief Operating Officer in 2019.

Her departure marks a leadership change at one of the main representative organisations for Scotland's digital technologies sector. ScotlandIS is a membership and cluster management body that works with public agencies and businesses across the country.

Meechan will continue to support the board in an advisory capacity after leaving the executive role, providing continuity during the handover period.

ScotlandIS represents a sector that plays a significant role in the Scottish economy. It says Scotland has 3,900 digital technology companies and that the sector contributes about GBP £7.5 billion to the country's gross value added.

It also says 100,000 people work in digital technology roles across the Scottish economy, with more than 70,000 employed directly in the industry. According to ScotlandIS, its members employ about 60,000 people and contribute around GBP £4.7 billion to Scotland's gross value added.

In a statement, Meechan described her departure as a natural point to leave after more than two decades with the organisation.

"ScotlandIS has been my entire career and, without doubt, some of the best years of my life. From the people I've had the privilege to work with to our incredible members showcasing Scottish tech to the world, I'll always look back on my time here with pride.

"But it feels like the right moment for my next adventure. The organisation has gone from strength to strength in recent years, driven by a fantastic team and hugely supportive board. I'm confident that under their watch ScotlandIS will continue to listen closely to the needs of its members and the wider industry, and that the new CEO will keep driving the change our sector deserves. With that, they will have my full support."

Andrew Williams, Chair of the ScotlandIS board and Chief Executive of Apptrix.ai, called her departure a significant moment for the organisation.

"I know I speak for the entirety of ScotlandIS when I say we are very sad to see Karen stepping down. From the moment she joined the organisation, she has been a great asset. Her leadership and drive have been instrumental to our success, and there's no doubt her legacy will be felt for years to come. We wish her every success in her next role and know she will be extraordinary," said Williams.

"But with change comes opportunity. The past few years have been economically challenging, to say the least. Despite that uncertainty, the tech industry continues to flourish, and ScotlandIS has played a key role in that. With so many initiatives and programmes underway, we have an exciting future ahead, and I fully believe we will find a leader who can build on ScotlandIS's current momentum and unlock even more opportunity," added Williams.

The transition comes as Scotland's digital technology industry continues to outpace the wider economy, according to figures cited by ScotlandIS. It says the sector is growing at 1.5 times the rate of the overall economy and exports more than GBP £3.3 billion.

ScotlandIS also points to persistent demand for skilled workers. It says 13,000 digital technology job opportunities are created in Scotland each year and that filling all of them would add GBP £1 billion to the country's gross value added.

The organisation has worked with the Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, and Skills Development Scotland on industry and skills policy. It has also been involved in developing the ICT and Digital Technologies Skills Investment Plan, which is now being delivered.

Taylor's appointment as Acting Chief Executive Officer keeps the existing senior leadership team in place while the search for a permanent replacement gets under way. Retaining Meechan as an adviser also suggests an effort to manage the transition without disrupting ongoing work across the sector.