Clydesdale chooses its "best people" for east of Scotland Clydesdale Bank has unveiled a new leadership team for its business and private banking operations in the east of Scotland, as it concentrates resources in areas it sees as ripe for growth. Scott McKerracher has been appointed regional director for business and private banking, supported by John Brebner, who is the new head of the group's regional business and private banking centre in Edinburgh. Both have been with the bank for more than 20 years. The bank has created a new regional structure with a number of other appointments. McKerracher said: "We have developed a team in the east of Scotland that is recognised for its ability and experience working with businesses of all sizes to really understand their needs, the challenges they face, and what support we can offer. We are looking forward to supporting new and existing businesses as they grow and continue to play an important part in the regional economy. The bank said that, following a strategic review, it had decided to put teams of its "best people" into its strongest markets. A spokesman said the bank regarded the east of Scotland as its heartland and believed it had strong potential for growth. The group's strategic changes, announced earlier this year, also involve cutting 1,400 jobs - about one fifth of its workforce - while cutting back on previous areas of expansion, such as lending on commercial property Paul Shephard, Clydesdale Bank's director for business and private banking, said: "Scott, John and the new east of Scotland team are all highly respected within the business community for their experience and genuine dedication to working with successful and growing businesses. Their appointments are an illustration of the bank's commitment to east of Scotland companies.