Highland Council has announced the appointment of a new chief executive. Alistair Dodds, the council's current depute chief executive, will take over from Arthur McCourt when he retires in July after 12 years in the job. Mr Dodds moved to the Highlands in 1991 as depute director of manpower services with the Highland Regional Council, and was appointed director of personnel in 1995. In 1998, he took on the role of director of corporate services and depute chief executive with Highland Council.