The Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA) has appointed five new non-executive directors to its company board, following a public recruitment process earlier this year.
“The appointments mark a significant step forward in the organisation’s evolution as it begins to deliver an ambitious strategy across 2025–2028,” said a statement.
The SMIA is the membership organisation and innovation agency that supports Scotland’s music industry.
The new non-executive directors are:
Ally McCrae – development producer, 4Studio (Channel 4); artist manager, Old Sea Brigade
Jackie Wylie – artistic director and chief executive, National Theatre of Scotland
Mark Douglas – chief information officer, PPL
Sharon Riley (pictured) – director, business and legal affairs, Virgin Music Group
Tom Gallacher – director, Patterns Seem to Form
According to the announcement, the appointments will strengthen the SMIA’s governance, broaden its expertise and support the delivery of its new multi-year plan, which is focused on driving systemic change, enhancing sector sustainability and amplifying the value of Scottish music at home and internationally.
They join the existing board of non-executive directors, which includes co-chairs Anneliese Harmon (global music & entertainment executive/consultant) and Sarah Johnston (head of business development at EmuBands), as well as Andy Duggan (live music agent, WME), David Mogendorff (founder, DMog), Dougie Brown (producer, Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival), Horse McDonald (singer-songwriter and label founder), Iain McFadden (chartered accountant, McFadden Associates), Jen Anderson (label manager, promoter, tour manager & lecturer), Jonathan Tait (rights manager, STV) and Thursa Sanderson OBE (chief executive, Drake Music Scotland).
Anneliese Harmon, co-chair of the Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA), said: “We’re proud to welcome such dynamic and well-rounded members to our SMIA board. Their wealth of expertise and unwavering commitment to advancing Scottish music will be instrumental in shaping our next chapter, further enabling us to expand, strengthen our voice, and champion the industry at every level.”
Their wealth of expertise and unwavering commitment to advancing Scottish music will be instrumental in shaping our next chapter
Anneliese Harmon
The appointments come following a £34 million uplift in culture sector investment from the Scottish Government for 2025-26. Creative Scotland has provided 251 arts organisations – including the SMIA – with multi-year funding across 2025-28.
As part of Creative Scotland’s Multi-Year Funding Portfolio, the SMIA will scale up its activity and enhance support for its growing membership community of people working in music in Scotland. In conjunction with the announcement of new non-executive directors, the SMIA has also revealed that it has now surpassed 6,000 members, marking a significant milestone in the organisation’s development.
Robert Kilpatrick, CEO and creative director of the Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA), said: “I’m really proud to welcome our five newly appointed non-executive directors to the SMIA company board. They join at a hugely important time not just for the organisation, but for Scotland’s music industry as a whole. Following a tough and turbulent few years for the sector, 2025 brings a renewed sense of optimism, innovation and determination to drive positive change.
“Our 2025-28 plan is centred around strategic partnerships and macro-level interventions that address systemic challenges and deliver long-term impact. It’s built on the firm belief that an authentic Scottish strategy is required to deliver for a distinctive and diverse Scottish music industry, and for that strategy to be effective, it has to be both co-designed and co-delivered with those it’s aiming to support. I’m excited to work with – and learn from – our new directors as we continue our mission of strengthening, empowering and uniting Scotland’s music industry, and as Scottish music continues to play its part in building a fairer, stronger and more confident nation.”
The SMIA company board works alongside the CEO and creative director to collaboratively develop SMIA strategy, support organisational governance and see the successful delivery of SMIA services, projects and events.
Last month, the SMIA appointed Vahishtai Ghosh as its new equalities and industry development officer.
Today’s announcement also follows the SMIA’s recent reveal of Dundee as the new Host City for the Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award, with the 2025 Ceremony taking place at the Caird Hall on November 6. Eligible album submissions are now open at sayaward.com (closing July 31).
