Dick Balharry has been appointed interim chair of the National Trust for Scotland.

He replaces Shonaig Macpherson, whose second term in the role was due to end in Sept this year, but who had indicated that she would stand down to coincide with the start of George Reid’s strategic review of the Trust.

Balharry (pictured) has been a member of the board of the conservation charity since October 2008, and will act as interim chair of both the Trust’s board and council until a permanent successor is appointed.

The President of the NTS, the Duke of Buccleuch, paid tribute to Macpherson’s work: “Shonaig Macpherson has worked with utter dedication and tireless energy on behalf of the Trust.

It is to her great credit that the Trust’s financial position has been stabilised and the question of the Trust’s long term sustainability is now being addressed.”

However, In Trust for Scotland, the group campaigning for reform of the NTS on behalf of its members, released a statement welcoming the appointment but criticising Macpherson.

“The resignation of Shonaig Macpherson today breaks one link with the discredited management policies that contributed to the current crisis.

“It is necessary to rebuild the Trust’s governance structure from the top down and we are hopeful that George Reid’s review will learn from past mistakes.”