Trade body Homes for Scotland (HFS) has announced that current chair Jim Mather is stepping down from the organisation with effect from its Annual General Meeting on May 12.

With the process of recruiting a successor already underway, vice chair and previous past chair Doug McLeod, who is regional director in Scotland for Barratt Homes, will act as chair on an interim basis.

HFS chief executive Nicola Barclay said: “Jim’s insight and experience has been invaluable in expanding our work in the critical area of public affairs and the Board and I wish him well for the future.”