Morayshire landowner Mark Tennant has been appointed chairman designate by the Board of Scottish Land & Estates (SLE).

Tennant’s immediate priority will be to work with private, community and charitable landowners to help them use their land in the fight against climate change.

Tennant’s family business, Innes Estate in Elgin, has been a member of SLE for over 40 years. During that time, he has been a member of the organisation’s Highland Committee twice as well as vice-chair (Policy) since 2018.

Tennant said: “This is a crucial time for businesses and communities in rural Scotland. Our farms, forests, moorlands and peatlands can play a huge role in helping combat the climate emergency and without which Scotland cannot reach net zero emissions by its target of 2045.

“From the way we do business, to using land as a carbon sink to drain greenhouse gas emissions, our land plays a crucial role. As chairman designate, I will be working with private, community and charitable landowners to help fight climate change.”

His working life began in nursing with the NHS, which included a period in a Tibetan refugee camp in India. Mark then joined the Scots Guards before moving into a career in the city of London in 1974.

He was chair of Scottish Financial Enterprise from 2009 to 2012, dealing with the impact of the financial crash. During this time, he was also deputy chairman of the Scottish Government’s financial services advisory board chaired by the First Minister.

The Moray estate extends to 4,500 acres of low ground estate, centred around the 17th century Innes House, which has been used for weddings and corporate events for over 20 years. Mark will take up the helm as chair on 28 April 2020 when current chair David Johnstone steps down.