The National Trust for Scotland (NTS) is to appoint a new chair to replace Shonaig Macpherson on her departure in September 2010.

Macpherson announced her decision to step down from the post at the conservation trust's council meeting in June, saying: "Over the next twelve months, a major review of the trust's governance structure and its future role in looking after Scotland's heritage is to be carried out.

"In terms of timing, it makes sense to seek a new chair to coincide with this review, rather than later next year when the review will be almost complete.

"It has been an honour to serve as chair of this prestigious organisation and I am enormously proud of what we have achieved over the past four years - improving the trust's financial situation, with visitors numbers up and membership now well over 310,000."

President of the trust, the Duke of Buccleuch, added: "I believe enormous progress has been made in getting the trust's finances onto a sound footing and she has driven the overhaul of the trust's structure that was essential for its survival.

"She has led it in the highly acclaimed development of the new visitor centre at Culloden and in its most ambitious project ever, the new Robert Burns Birthplace Museum in Alloway."