Glasgow City Council has appointed Robert Emmott as its new Executive Director of Financial Services.

Emmott, who currently holds a similar role at Dundee City Council, will succeed Martin Booth in the New Year.

Deputy Council Leader and City Treasurer Cllr Ricky Bell said: “Robert has a real strategic vision; an understanding of finance as an enabler of other services – and a very strong belief in service reform and change that benefits not only the council but the lives of citizens.

“He’s going to be a really valuable addition to our leadership team and I’m looking forward to working with him to meet the challenges we have identified in the city’s Strategic Plan.”

Emmott has spent the vast majority of his working life in public service and has worked in local government in Scotland for 25 years, with his appointment coming after more than four years as Executive Director of Corporate Services at Dundee City Council.

Prior to that, he held a series of senior roles at Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, becoming Director of Finance in 2005.

A graduate of the University of Durham, Robert began his career with the NHS in Cumbria before working in the private sector as a management consultant with PricewaterhouseCoopers.

He is past-chair and a current executive committee member of the Directors of Finance Section of CIPFA Scotland and is married with three grown-up children.

Emmott said: “I’m excited to be joining a great team in Glasgow and having the opportunity to make a positive contribution to the council and the city.

“Glasgow is a big authority, but I can relate to many of the issues facing the council and the priorities and challenges set out in the city’s strategic plan.”

Current Executive Director Martin Booth will leave the council at the end of the year.

The council’s Chief Executive Susanne Millar has already appointed Director of Financial & Business Services Morag Johnston to act as Executive Director on an interim basis until Emmott takes up his post, which is likely to be in the Spring.