Longworth appointed as Chambers of Commerce chief

JOHN Longworth has been appointed as the new director-general of British Chambers of Commerce – the umbrella organisation that oversees the UK’s various chambers of commerce.

Mr Longworth is a currently a non-executive of the Manchester-based Co-operative Group and Haydock-based Nichols plc – prior to that he has held senior executive roles at Tesco and Asda and is also currently a member of the competition commission. He takes over from David Frost, who is stepping down after more than eight years in the post.

Mr Frost, who spoke in Manchester yesterday at a summit on High Speed Rail, has not announced what his new role will be but has confirmed that he is not planning to retire.

The current President of the British Chambers of Commerce, Neville Reyner, said: “John Longworth is an outstanding choice to lead the BCC at a time when its influence on the UK growth agenda has never been higher.

“John has wide-ranging business experience, a passionate commitment to local growth, and a strong understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing Chamber members across the country. I am confident that the BCC will thrive under his leadership over the coming years.”