New chamber president calls for united front with LEP
THE new president of Birmingham Chamber of Commerce Group has called on all business organisations in the city to work together with the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership to boost the area’s economic profile.
Mike Ward, senior partner of Birmingham-based law firm Gateley, said the united front was the only way to ensure the city’s continued success.
Mr Ward, who replaces Christine Braddock, principal and chief executive of Birmingham Metropolitan College at today’s chamber AGM, said: It’s important that the chamber and organisations like Marketing Birmingham the IoD, the CBI and Birmingham Forward work closely with the LEP as we are all aiming for the same goal and we should unite in a single purpose.
“In order to ensure Birmingham is the place to do business, there is now a big opportunity through the LEP for the chamber to be at the heart of business in the city. I can’t think of a better placed business organisation to do this.
“We need to debunk some of the pre-conceived ideas about turf wars – this has got to go. Let us not waste the current economic crisis. We need to work together to develop a city that people want to come to and do business in.”
Mr Ward said he would also be encouraging Birmingham institutions to highlight their presence on the global stage.
The chamber said Mr Ward would bring considerable experience to the post, gained from his 25 years in the legal profession.
“Mr Ward has considerable experience in corporate transactions, corporate restructuring and shareholder disputes. He is regularly involved in contract negotiations, deal origination and deals structuring,” it said.
Mr Ward, who was educated at the University of Birmingham, is a former president and treasurer of the Birmingham Law Society; former chairman of the Young Solicitors Group and Trainee Solicitors Group; and of the Midland’s Corporate Finance Charity Ball Committee.
He has become president of Birmingham chamber a year ahead of schedule. Work commitments abroad mean that Simon Warr, who was due to take up the appointment this year, will remain vice-president. He is expected to be joined by Steve Brittan, managing director of BSA Tools, as the newly-elected vice-president.
