FORMER IBM executive Melinda Matthews Clarkson is to lead digital skills academy CodeClan.

Clarkson, former-vice president of commerce partnerships at the technology giant, plans to use her new role as chief executive officer to extend CodeClan’s operations beyond the central belt.

The digital skills academy is the only training centre of its kind in the UK and promises to make graduates “job-ready” within 16 weeks following intensive courses in Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Clarkson said: “There is a real buzz about the technology sector in Scotland and we need to fuel it by getting more and more talented digital professionals into the marketplace.

“CodeClan has ambitious plans for growth.”