Yorkshire Chamber elects new president to fight for business
A TIMBER entrepreneur has been named as the new president of Yorkshire & Humber Chambers of Commerce.
Richard Wightman of Wightwood Industries succeeds Michael Oughtred, vice-chairman of William Jackson & Sons who served as president between 2007 and 2008.
Mr Wightman, whose career was in a family-owned business importing and merchanting timber, joinery manufacturing and civil and mechanical engineering, was previously the president of the Bradford Chamber of Commerce. Yorkshire & Humber Chambers of Commerce is the umbrella body for the seven local Chambers of Commerce in the region.
Mr Wightman said: “I’m delighted to be elected president at such an important time for business. Fighting the recession is clearly the big challenge facing us all and chamber’s have a major role to play by providing both practical help that companies need as well as speaking powerfully on behalf of business right across Yorkshire and the Humber.”
“Our region is a great place to run a business and there are still genuine business opportunities despite the tough times we are experiencing at the moment. My job is to complement the work the chambers are doing locally by clearly articulating the regional priorities of business.
” Yorkshire and the Humber now has more chamber members than any other region, which reflects the real commitment of businesses across our region to their local communities and gives me a real head start as in my role.”
Mr Wightman will serve for two years as president. His main role is to lead the chamber’s policy and representation activity at a regional level.
He will chair the Yorkshire & Humber Chamber Business Council which is composed of local chamber presidents and other business leaders who meet quarterly with ministers, civil servants and other decision makers to discuss key business issues.
