With 30 years of experience, having worked in independent television, corporate entertainment and the arts, as well as receiving The Garrett Award (a national award in recognition of a significant professional achievement in fundraising) in 2003, Bird will now be responsible for the promotion of Scotland's Capital across Marketing Edinburgh's visit, invest, live, work and study agendas.
One of Marketing Edinburgh's main aims will be to align promotional spend across public and private city partners, making the most of shared objectives through co-ordinated financial and strategic collaboration. The single lead body, which will be formally introduced in April, was created as the city's official marketing organisation following the integration of DEMA (Destination Edinburgh Marketing Alliance), Edinburgh Convention Bureau and Edinburgh Film Focus.
Alan Johnston, Non-Executive Chairman of Marketing Edinburgh said, "We needed someone extraordinary for this role - someone with vision, tenacity, commercial understanding and natural leadership skills. We've found all that and more in Lucy.
"Like all great communicators, Lucy has a way of making you believe that anything is possible and it's clear from her positive attitude that she's a person who's determined to find solutions in even the most challenging of situations. Her manner - diplomatic yet decisive - and fresh, outwards-looking perspective will definitely complement our stakeholders, who are a fairly diverse group.
"But it is Lucy's track-record that made her stand out. From building valuable public-private partnerships, to her understanding of what it takes to create a successful campaign, Lucy is an exciting appointment for a progressive, international city such as Edinburgh.
"We look forward to Lucy leading the team and are confident that Marketing Edinburgh will go from strength to strength under her direction."
Lucy Bird, Chief Executive of Marketing Edinburgh added, "I'm honoured to have been chosen to lead this new company and the local, regional and international promotion of Edinburgh. I've always felt that Edinburgh is in my DNA with my mother and father having been stationed at Rosyth and married in the dockyard chapel and then living in a flat in Broomhall for the first years of their married life. Edinburgh was always talked of with great warmth and affection throughout my childhood. As an adult I've been a frequent visitor to the city with my husband Geoff and both our sons enjoyed and benefitted enormously from their time as students at the University of Edinburgh. We've owned a flat in the New Town since 2006 so I know what a great city Edinburgh is to study in and to visit.
"Leading a new business always brings challenges and opportunities but I know we are starting from a great base with a strong board, great commitment from our staff and a fantastic product. We've a clear mission and opportunity to market Edinburgh to the world. It's really exciting.
"I love dealing with people and this role is all about building and sustaining relationships and partnerships. I enjoy working across and through both public and private sector agendas, finding ways to make things happen and ensuring that the right people feel ownership of those ideas and the delivery strategies surrounding them. I believe I've built really strong relationships with both public and private sector colleagues in the North East and I aim to do so in Edinburgh too.
"Over-and-above my track-record, I bring a genuine passion for Edinburgh to the role, as well as a dogged determination, strong work ethic and a belief in team-working. I do have a sense of humour too though. It's important to be able to laugh!"
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