Recruitment has started to find the new chief executive at Cairngorm Mountain
A new chief executive is being sought for Cairngorm Mountain - but there are claims no matter whose name is on the door the business can not be turned round without an open discussion on the resort’s future.
Owners Highlands and Islands Enterprise announced yesterday the agency is looking for candidates for the top job at ‘one of Scotland’s leading mountain resorts’ with an annual salary of £85,000.
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According to the job advert, Cairngorm Mountain (Scotland) Ltd is looking for someone with exceptional leadership, people management and communications skills.
They will ‘lead a highly motivated and skilled team to promote Cairngorm Mountain as a leading Scottish attraction, plan sustainable growth and direct day-to-day operations’.
HIE also stated: “Commitment to building positive relationships with a broad range of customers, partner organisations and stakeholders at local, regional and national levels will be critical.
“It is also important that the chief executive has a clear and strong commercial focus, awareness of environmental issues and a proven ability to make high quality investment decisions to grow and sustain the business.”
Previous chief executive Susan Smith retired last September.
Strathspey MSP Fergus Ewing (SNP) said: “I hope the new executive, like Ms Smith, is devoted to the task of making Cairngorm Mountain successful.
“The existing team are excellent and know the hill better than anyone and perhaps one of them can make the step-up.
“Much of the criticism directed towards the hill and in particular the funicular is in my view unwarranted and also unfair to the people who work there.
“So the new leader should also be a robust defender of the good work they have done and will continue to do.
“We can and will succeed when the funicular is back in use. No critic ever mentions that the work to repair it must be carried out in the most difficult construction site in the UK with sub arctic weather.
“I wish the new leader well.”
Mike Dearman is a director of the Aviemore and Glenmore Community Trust but was speaking to the Strathy in a personal capacity.
He said: “Unfortunately I no longer believe that any new CEO, however, keen they may be, can effect the scale of transformation that is necessary to turn the business around under HIE’s ownership.
“HIE does many things well but it is is simply not equipped to this task, the business model has failed time, and time again.
“HIE took over direct control of Cairngorm Mountain seven years ago, in that time HIE has poured more than £8 million into the business in revenue funding to cover the companies operating losses.
“I understand that the funicular repairs have cost at least £25 million to date with more bad costs coming, and HIE has poured further millions into renovations to the Ptarmigan restaurant, tubing, a bike park, and gravity karting, but real turnover remains pitiful and the business is in more difficulty now than it ever has been.
“The diversifications to date are not close to driving the revenue CMSL needs to cover its huge outgoings and, until we can have inclusive and open discussions around this, I don't believe any meaningful recovery can take place regardless of who's name is on the door.”
Save the Ciste campaigner Alan Brattey said: “HIE/CMSL require someone with experience of managing a mountain resort.
“He or she needs to be an individual who is strong enough to change the failed strategy that has focussed on the funicular railway that has led the hill business to financial failure, time and again.
“The working culture on the hill is also something that needs to be changed to one of 'can-do' rather than can't do.”
Concerned long time Cairngorm skiing fan Graham Garfoot said: “At the last interview, a gentleman was interviewed who had all the qualifications to operate a ski resort and he was passed over in favour of someone with no qualifications.
“The gentleman may still be interested and was looking for a salary of circa £40,000 plus a bonus scheme.
“To pay someone £85,000 is encouraging the same old lackadaisical ‘I'm getting well paid anyway’ attitude.”
As part of the job specification, HIE stated: “Its signature attraction, Scotland’s only funicular railway, is currently out of service while an extensive programme of remediation works is completed but is expected to be back in action soon.”
The responsibilities of the post have since been managed through a combination of a part-time interim chief executive and enhanced roles for two of the senior management team.
Details are on the Highlands and Islands Enterprise website and the closing date for applications is Sunday 9 February.
The Strathy approached a variety of contacts for comment following HIE’s announcement early afternoon yesterday - an hour before deadline - for responses.
CAPTION:
NEW BOSS: The successful candidate will replace Susan Smith who moved to the job from HIE and retired in the Autumn.
SKI OPERATION: So far only the lower slopes have been open to the public because of a lack of snow.
