27-06-2025
New OneRen director says he is 'proud' to call Paisley his home
Gordon Morrison admits he has fallen in love with Paisley since moving to the Renfrewshire town as he prepares for key role.
New OneRen senior executive Gordon Morrison says he has 'fallen in love with Paisley ' as he bids to boost leisure, culture and sport in the area.
The Renfrewshire town has left a defining mark on Mr Morrison who has just started as director of business development. The organisation runs leisure, cultural and sporting services across the area.
It is a role which will see him operate not just as part of the senior team delivering Paisley's £100 million cultural transformation, but the swimming pools, gyms, sports areas, libraries, community halls and arts venues which are at the heart of life-improving health, wellbeing, social and cultural opportunities.
And given his love for life in the town, and the wider Renfrewshire area, it's perhaps no surprise he has seized an opportunity to work here as well.
He explained: 'As I got to know Paisley, I was really taken aback by its striking architecture and the quality of its public parks. It's a great place to bring up a family.
'My partner, Lesley, is a Buddie by birth. We met in Edinburgh but she always said that, when we started a family, Paisley would be our home. So, that's what we did in 2019. We've two children now and I love living here.'
Mr Morrison's key role will see him work to unlock new commercial opportunities which aims to further OneRen's work to enrich lives locally and reinvest in facilities – which include the Lagoon, ON-X Linwood and Renfrew leisure centres.
The 49-year-old brings with him more than 20 years' experience of working to enhance and develop visitor attractions – most recently as chief executive of the Association for Cultural Enterprises.
Before that, he was chief executive of the Association of Scottish Visitor Attractions and has also worked for VisitScotland.
He added: 'When the chance to be part of something so exciting came up, based in the town I'm now lucky enough to call home, it was just too good to turn down.
'I'm looking forward to championing the region and have others discover – or rediscover – just how special it is. The cultural regeneration alone is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
'It's arguably the biggest and most ambitious project of its type in the United Kingdom. From people I've spoken to, I know that communities across the country are looking at Paisley to see what they might be able to achieve.
'They are keen to see the vision for the region to succeed. That makes this a really exciting time to be joining OneRen, which really is a dynamic organisation.'
