Former Masterchef: The Professionals winner Gary Maclean announced as Scotland's first National Chef

Gary Maclean, who has been named Scotland's first National Chef by the Scottish Government. (Andrew Milligan/PA Wire) — Gary Maclean, who has been named Scotland's first National Chef by the Scottish Government

CHEF Gary Maclean has been appointed to a new role by the Scottish Government.

The former Masterchef: The Professionals winner has been named as Scotland’s first National Chef.

Mr Maclean, a senior chef lecturer at the City of Glasgow College, was the winner of MasterChef: The Professionals in 2016.

Gary Maclean (centre), who has been named Scotland’s first National Chef by the Scottish Government, prepares a chicken dish in the kitchen of the Grassmarket Community Cafe in Edinburgh with Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy Fergus Ewing and Minister for Public Health Aileen Campbell. (Andrew Milligan/PA Wire)

His new role will see him tasked with helping to take forward plans to make Scotland a “good food nation” and deliver a Government commitment to promote locally sourced and produced food and drink.

He will also demonstrate ways of cooking fresh ingredients at events and via social media, as well as highlighting the benefits of good food on physical and mental wellbeing.

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Mr Maclean said: “As a passionate advocate for cooking fresh, nutritious and locally sourced food, I am absolutely delighted to be appointed Scotland’s first National Chef.

“I’m sure my passion for education will also help to promote the benefits that Scottish produce can have on a healthy diet and will help to change our relationship with locally sourced and produced food.”

The appointment was announced by Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing.

He said: “The appointment of Gary Maclean as our National Chef will play a central role in celebrating the rich larder of produce that we have available and advocate the use of locally sourced, healthy, sustainable and affordable food.

“Scotland’s food and drink sector is a global success story and one of the main contributors to our economy. We want to build upon this success by becoming a world leading good food nation where nutritious, fresh and environmentally sustainable food is a key part of what makes people proud of their country and Gary will play a leading role in delivering this ambition.”