Wigtown Festival Company appoints new CEO

Wigtown Festival Company has appointed ISLA ROSSER-OWEN as its new CEO.

She takes over from ANDREW MCCONNELL, who became interim CEO last year and led the search for a permanent appointee.

Rosser-Owen starts her new role in August and will oversee the annual Wigtown Book Festival, as well as the company’s year-round programme of activities.

She previously worked as the book festival’s cultural producer for three years from 2018.

In 2022, she moved to Bradford Literature Festival, where she was senior creative producer.

Rosser-Owen began her career as an editor in the publishing industry before moving to the Scottish island of Islay, where she went on to become director of the Islay Book Festival for six years.

She said, “There is something magical about rural Scottish book festivals, and over the years, Wigtown has elevated that to a whole new level.

“For me, returning to Wigtown feels like stepping back into a creative adventure, and I’m absolutely thrilled to be back in this wonderfully unique place tucked away in south-west Scotland.”

At the same time as appointing a new CEO, the company’s operations director, ANNE BARCLAY, will now take on a broader role as communities director.

Wigtown Festival Company chair, CATHY AGNEW, commented: “We are delighted to be welcoming Isla back to the town to take up the role of CEO and also to have Anne taking on a new and expanded role to help us do more to support the regeneration of the community and economy through literature, events, business and cultural tourism.”

“Both Isla and Anne have a deep love of the town, the festival and the work of the festival company – and they also have the dedication and experience that will help us develop in new and exciting ways in the years ahead.”