Following a competitive recruitment process, Registers of Scotland (RoS) is delighted to announce the appointment of four new Non-Executive Directors, who will join the RoS Board from 1 September 2026.
Mike Harlow
Mike graduated from Imperial College London in Mechanical Engineering before converting to law. He then worked as a solicitor in London for 15 years, acting for commercial property clients.
He spent 11 years at English Heritage as its Legal Director where he gained board-level experience of significant organisational change and major reform of heritage law and policy.
Mike then joined the board of HM Land Registry for eight years. He spent four years as General Counsel and Deputy Chief Land Registrar before taking up the role of Director of Customer and Strategy Group and Deputy Chief Executive.
Elaine Lorimer
Elaine is an award-winning CEO, most recently of Revenue Scotland, Scotland's Tax Authority.
Previous roles include the Chief Executive of the Law Commission of England and Wales and Director of Corporate Functions of the National School of Government.
A qualified lawyer and public finance accountant, Elaine loves leading transformational change and building high performing organisations and teams.
Michael Payne
Michael has held senior analytical leadership roles across financial services, media and communications. His career in digital and analytics started at Accenture and he has since helped organisations modernise their businesses through data, digital and AI and transform operational and commercial performance.
Michael’s experience includes improving operational efficiency, enhancing customer experience, creating data-driven revenue opportunities and embedding strong AI governance in regulated environments. He is passionate about harnessing data, digital and AI to create positive economic and social impact. He hopes to bring his experience to RoS and help it create greater public value and boost local economic growth.
Tom Saunders
Tom has exceptional experience of managing technology and change in both UK and global organisations. Tom’s UK and global engagements include Chief Information Officer roles in banks, central government and professional services.
Tom also mentors adolescents who have experienced care, helping them to build confidence and to broaden their imaginations of career and potential life journeys.
Jennifer Henderson, Keeper of the Registers of Scotland, said:
“I am delighted to welcome our new non-executive colleagues to the RoS Board. They join at a pivotal point, as we shape our next corporate plan and the future direction of RoS. They bring with them a breadth of expertise across AI governance, cyber resilience, public service reform, commercial decision-making, and strategic leadership. Their insight, challenge, and external perspective will strengthen our governance and help us continue to modernise our services, embrace innovation responsibly, and deliver the best public service for Scotland.”
Notes to editors
Registers of Scotland is the public body responsible for compiling and maintaining registers relating to property and other legal documents in Scotland. Registers of Scotland records and safeguards the rights of the individual while providing open access to information on the registers.