Plans are under way to mark Burns' 250th birthday

Allan Burns, director of Diageo Scotland, will spearhead the 2009 Year of the Homecoming events.

Mr Burns said he was delighted at his appointment and looking forward to commemorating the poet.

Tourism Minister Patricia Ferguson said Burns was "one of our greatest cultural assets" who deserved recognition.

Burns was born on 25 January, 1759 in the village of Alloway near Ayr and died in 1796.

I very much look forward to driving the development of an innovative programme which engages both local and global communities Allan Burns

Mr Burns said: "The 2009 Year of Homecoming is an ambitious project which presents tremendous opportunities and potential for Scotland.

"I very much look forward to driving the development of an innovative programme which engages both local and global communities."

A recent study by Glasgow Caledonian University's Moffat Centre suggested the Robert Burns generated about �157m a year for Scotland's economy.

'Cultural assets'

Two-thirds of that money was estimated to come from tourism, with Ayrshire benefiting most.

Ms Ferguson said she believed the value of Burns to Scotland's economy could be even higher.

She said: "Robert Burns is one of our greatest cultural assets.

"His international standing is remarkable and it is fitting that someone of Allan's calibre has agreed to chair the steering group, which will oversee the development of the programme for the Year of Homecoming in 2009.

"I am confident that Allan and his team will develop a programme of events to ensure that there is a lasting legacy from the 2009 initiative."

The Ayrshire-based steering group will be supported by a project director and other partners.