The chief executive of the national improvement organisation for councils in Scotland, Colin Mair, has announced he is to retire from local government service.

Mair, who has been at the helm of the Improvement Service (IS) since it its inception in 2004, will leave his post on March 31.

Colin Mair said: “I am a passionate believer in the role local public services can have in improving lives and opportunities for people across Scotland, and it has been a real privilege to work with them across the last 14 years.

“Improvement is always a collaboration and I have been recurrently inspired by the passion and commitment to make things better shown by colleagues across Scotland’s councils and other public services.

“I am proud of the role the IS has developed in supporting change and improvement across Scotland. That role is overwhelmingly due to the talent and creativity of the whole staff group and due to a very constructive relationship between the IS Board, Scottish Government and others.”

Councillor Alison Evison, chair of the Improvement Service Board, said, “As chair of the Board I would like to thank Colin for his vision during his time as chief executive of the Improvement Service.

“He has brought enthusiasm, energy and leadership to the role. It has been a pleasure to work with him over this last year.

“During his time as chief executive, Colin has made the core aims and objectives of the Improvement Service not just an aspiration but a reality and for this I thank him very much.”

Interim arrangements will be put in place for the leadership of the Improvement Service. Longer term arrangements will be announced by the Board in due course.