Bill McKelvey to Step Down Next Year SAC Principal Announces his Plans in the Week he is Honoured

Professor Bill McKelvey, Chief Executive and Principal of SAC has decided to step down at the end of January 2012. By then he will have been in his post for ten years. Bill McKelvey announced his plans in the same week he was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, a significant award and recognition by his academic and scientific peers.

A vet, with experience in both private practice and research, Professor McKelvey joined SAC in 1988. He later went on to manage SACs Veterinary Services and then the Corporate Operations Group before being appointed CEO and Principal in 2002. Since then he has led a major reorganisation of SACs operations, developing a strong customer focus with financial stability.

During his time as CEO and Principal SAC has become a fully fledged Higher Education Institution offering a wide range of predominately degree courses to both school leavers and returners to education. One of his main achievements has been the relocation of teaching from Auchincruive to the brand new, Riverside Campus in Ayr, shared with the University of West of Scotland and due to open later this year.

A strong advocate of partnership Professor McKelvey has strengthened links with Research Institutes in Scotland and globally and has ensured SACs research activity met the needs of industry and Government. SAC is now highly regarded for its work in addressing major challenges such as climate change, food production, animal welfare and environmental management.

SAC Consultants have earned equal respect for their service to rural businesses and communities in Scotland and the north of England. They have been active in helping address livestock disease control, business diversification and other aspects of EU, UK and Scottish Government policy. The business model has helped strengthen SACs balance sheet and support future activity.

Paying tribute to Professor McKelvey SAC Chairman, Lord Jamie Lindsay said

As Chief Executive Bill has led what has been a huge transformation in SAC, both in our role and what we can deliver. His aim was to achieve academic excellence and business success. He has done that. Bill can deservedly take considerable credit for handing on an organisation whose unique strengths, focus and relevance to the challenges facing agriculture and land-use in the 21^st Century are the envy of other parts of the UK.

It has been my great privilege to lead this unique organisation, said Professor McKelvey. But I feel, after ten years, it is time to move on and make way for a new candidate to take SAC to the next stage of its strategic development.

Bill McKelvey also spoke of his pride at being elected a fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. It was announced on Wednesday 9^th March.

This recognition by the Royal Society of Edinburgh is not just for me but for SAC and the many colleagues I have worked with. The Royal Society of Edinburgh has a proud and distinguished history and I hope to make my contribution to the future of the RSE.

The Royal Society of Edinburgh is an educational charity and an independent, non-party political learned society. Membership reflects excellence in the sciences, arts, humanities, the professions, industry and commerce.  Candidates for Fellowship are nominated by existing Fellows of the Society and undergo a rigorous, five-stage, annual selection process, culminating in a postal ballot. The annual list follows the first ordinary meeting in March.

Professor McKelvey and the other new Fellows will have their Fellowships recognised at an RSE event on May 16^th