Garry Coutts (pictured) has been appointed as the new chair of the Scottish Housing Regulator (SHR).
Coutts has a long-standing interest in social housing and sees secure, affordable housing in strong communities as a key factor in the health and wealth of people in Scotland.
He began his work in social housing in 1984 after being elected as a Councillor for the Niddrie Ward of Edinburgh Council.
He played a key role in creating Hunters Hall Housing Co-operative, the first development of its kind in the East of Scotland, which is now part of Hillcrest Homes.
Additionally, he has chaired the court of the University of the Highlands and Islands, and is chair of Highland Housing Alliance, which delivers mid-market rent homes across the Highlands.
