Business champion steps down over 'right-wing' attacks

Mark Logan said the criticism had become draining

Scotland's chief entrepreneurial adviser has announced he is stepping down from his post, blaming criticism from the "right-wing" of Scottish politics and the press.

Mark Logan was appointed by Nicola Sturgeon's government in 2022 to champion entrepreneurship.

The former Skyscanner chief operating officer previously had to defend his salary of almost £200,000 while being contracted to work two days a week.

Mr Logan posted on social media that it had become “draining” to be a target for criticism.

The businessman was originally brought into the government in 2020 to lead a review of the digital economy.

In a post on LinkedIn, he said four and a half years advising government is “long enough and it is time for a change”.

He said: "We’ve made progress in these and other areas despite operating in a challenging financial environment.

"People outside Scotland are increasingly noticing this progress, and our start-ups will benefit from their interest.

"It’s down to all of our combined efforts, and I’ve enjoyed being part of that."

He added: “But I’ve decided that four and a half years is long enough for me in this role, and that it is time for a change.

"And although I am not in a political role, I am increasingly becoming a target for some in the right-wing of Scottish politics and their supporting publications, which, just as intended, has become draining.”

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes thanked the outgoing chief entrepreneur for his "truly exceptional contribution".

She said ministers would "take time" to see if someone else should be appointed to the role.

'Exceptional impact'

In January, Mr Logan defended his salary while speaking to Holyrood's Economy and Fair Work Committee in January.

Conservative MSP Graham Simpson noted that his "colossal" £200,000 pay packet equated to about £2,000 for each working day, noting it was more than the first minister earns.

Mr Logan said he was not paid for the "majority" of the work he did, telling MSPs he did "an awful lot more" than eight days' work each month.

He added that £2,000 a day was what junior consultants were paid, whereas he had 30 years' experience in the tech sector.

The government previously described the chief entrepreneur as “critical” to its National Strategy for Economic Transformation, which aims to establish the country as a “world-class entrepreneurial nation”.

Mr Logan was also said to be an integral part of the government’s Techscaler programme, which provides advice, infrastructure support and education to start-ups.

He had initially been contracted to work for two years until September this year.

Earlier this month, Forbes told the economy and fair work committee that more recently Mr Logan had been “working closely” with Health Secretary Neil Gray to “deliver more innovation in the national health service”.

She expressed her "sincere thanks" for the "exceptional impact" Mr Logan had in the job.

She added: "The end-to-end support we are building for Scotland's entrepreneurs and start-up businesses continues to attract praise and emulation from some of the most successful start-up economies in the world."