Chamber chief quits national board amid claims of London-centric leaning

THE chief executive of Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce has quit his national role as a non-executive director and board member of the British Chambers of Commerce.

Dr Ian Kelly, the longest serving chief executive in the BCC, has departed amid a row over the appointment of Dr Adam Marshall to the position of director general at the organisation.

Dr Marshall took on the role on 13 October 2016, replacing John Longworth who resigned as director general in March 2016 after suggesting that the UK’s future might be “brighter” outside the EU.

The resignation of Dr Kelly comes at the height of debates over the direction of the BCC, with some members claiming its focus is too London-centric.

Dr Kelly spoke to TheBusinessDesk.com yesterday saying: “The Chambers of Commerce are a special organisation. We work bottom-up and not top-down like many other organisations and it is important that the 52 chambers who own and pay for BCC ensure it is fit for purpose.”

An insider suggested the “London bubble” was to blame, leaving the rest of the country “withering on the vine.” They said they were grateful that Dr Kelly had protested the direction of the BCC.

Dr Kelly has been at the helm of the Hull & Humber Chamber and its subsidiaries since 1995. He oversaw the merger of Hull and the former local chambers in 1999.

 

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