Scottish business lobby group names new chief executive at ‘defining moment’ for nation

His appointment is said to have followed a UK-wide recruitment process with Singh emerging as the unanimous choice of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce (SCC) board. He takes over from Liz Cameron, who announced last year that she would be stepping down after 21 years in the role.

Singh, who received a British Empire Medal (BEM) in the 2020 New Year Honours, will officially begin as chief executive on February 1, signalling an “exciting new era” for the business network, which has some 12,000 members and is a campaigning voice on the corporate and political stages.

His priorities will include “amplifying the voice of business” during the upcoming Holyrood elections, delivering international trade programmes to the US and India, and working closely with the Scottish Chambers network to build a “strong policy platform”.

Singh, who has been with the SCC for 12 years and was previously its deputy chief executive, said he was taking on the role at a “defining moment” for Scotland’s business community.

“My top priority is to work in close partnership with our entire chamber network to represent our members and create meaningful economic growth opportunities,” he said.

“My ambition is to place Scotland at the forefront of global trade, harness digital transformation, and build a future-ready workforce. By fostering the right environment for start-ups, scale-ups, and established businesses, we can enhance competitiveness and deepen trade connections on the world stage.

“As the 2026 Scottish Parliament elections approach, SCC will offer a clear economic vision to drive innovation and support investment that delivers sustainable, long-term growth across the country. We will engage constructively with governments at all levels to advocate for a competitive business landscape and secure new investment opportunities,” he added.

SCC president Rodney Ayre said: “During the rigorous UK-wide recruitment process, we sought a high-calibre leader with the experience and dynamism to propel Scotland’s business community on the national and global stage.

“We were impressed by Charandeep’s vision, innovative thinking, and strategic ambition to strengthen SCC’s role as the voice of business for our 12,000 members.

“This is a role of national significance; Charandeep brings deep insight, commercial experience, and a proven record of delivery for Scotland’s chamber network. His ability to unite the private sector with government and international partners will enable SCC to play an influential role in shaping Scotland’s economic future.”

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Outgoing chief executive Cameron added: “I am delighted that Charandeep Singh has been appointed CEO of SCC. He has consistently demonstrated exceptional professionalism and passion in dealing with some of the most challenging issues of our age.

“From the Scottish independence referendum to Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic, he has been a formidable advocate for Scotland’s hard-working entrepreneurs and businesses. His energy, creativity, and awareness of the challenges and opportunities ahead make him the ideal person to lead SCC. I wish him and the organisation tremendous success.”