HOLYROOD PROGRESS GROUP WELCOMES NEW LEADERSHIP OF HOLYROOD PROJECT

Welcoming the announcement, Lewis Macdonald Convener of the Holyrood Progress Group said:

"The Spencely report recommended a strengthening of the management and oversight of the Holyrood Project. The Parliament’s first response to this was the establishment of the Progress Group. Its second was an internal reorganisation of the Project Team and the appointment of a new Project Director. I am delighted to welcome Alan Ezzi to that role.

"Alan is no stranger to high-profile projects and we are impressed by his enthusiasm and understanding of the task ahead. He joins a committed project team and we look forward to working with him.

"We also wish to take this opportunity to confirm that, at a Design Team level, Benedetta Tagliabue Miralles, Brian Stewart and Mick Duncan are jointly in charge of the project following the untimely death of Enric Miralles.

"It is abundantly clear that the vision of the Parliament was deeply held and understood by all the members of the partnership. I am confident that they will continue to work together – as they have done in the past – to deliver an outstanding Parliament building."

Alan Ezzi, aged 52, is currently Capital Projects Director at Lothian University Hospitals NHS Trust where his responsibilities include oversight of the New Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. He has previously held a number of positions in project management both in this country and abroad.

Mr Ezzi will take up appointment in early November 2000.

The post of Project Director was advertised following the end of the former Project Director’s secondment from the Scottish Executive.

The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body has a contract with EMBT-RMJM Ltd. as architect of the new Parliament building at Holyrood. The continuing obligation to carry out the commission rests with the company. That obligation on the Architect, being a company, has not altered with the demise of Enric Miralles.