Former SMG executive resigns as chairman of Edinburgh Zoo
Having initially resisted calls to resign, former SMG executive Donald Emslie has resigned as chairman of Edinburgh Zoo, following a vote of no confidence by the attraction’s board last week.
Emslie, who was a board director of Scottish Media Group (SMG) for seven years, has bowed to rising pressure to step down from his role after an emergency meeting last week of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland ended with members voting against his leadership.
Emslie initially said he would not resign from his role after the vote, but released a statement confirming that he would be leaving the attraction soon after.
He said: “At the EGM on Thursday evening and to the media afterwards, I said that I had listened to the members’ views but acknowledged also that I had obligations as a trustee of a charity.
“As a board we have been dealing with a malicious and untrue attack on the society.
“The correct course of action was for me to discuss with my board what the next step should be, taking into consideration the interests of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, the views of the members and of OSCR – the charities regulator in Scotland.
“I was able to do this at a board meeting on Friday, during which I informed my fellow trustees that I would resign as chair and allow the board to rebuild the confidence of the members.
“This has been an incredibly difficult time for all concerned. As a board we have been dealing with a malicious and untrue attack on both the society and a member of the senior management team.
“What we found during our investigations has had further serious ramifications for the society, and my greatest wish is that the board is now allowed to complete the remaining investigation process and reach a conclusion.
“I have been privileged to work with very talented people on the board and staff of the RZSS and I wish them and the society every success in the future – a future which I know is extremely bright.”
Emslie also held the role of director of broadcasting at STV following a deal which saw SMG sell off The Herald and Evening Times to Newsquest.