Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce said goodbye to one chairman and hello to another at their annual AGM and Members’ Showcase. Chairman Brian Hibbert CBE, who has been chairman of the business support organisation since 2007, came to the Chamber from Lockheed Martin where he was Managing Director.
At the AGM , Chief Executive Cheryl Smart MBE commended Brian for his wise counsel, support and leadership. Brian took a lead role in restructuring of the BCC creating a new Board of Directors and was instrumental in setting upSEMLEP, the Local Enterprise Partnership, which brought together private and public sector interests.
Said Cheryl:
‘Brian has been very popular with members, Board and staff. He’s a familiar face at networking events and knows every member of staff by name. His commitment and loyalty to the Chamber has been outstanding, particularly when you consider that all this is done without any remuneration’
Brian’s successor is Rod Calvert OBE, former Managing Director of Millbrook Proving Ground. Rod has worked in Bedfordshire for over 40 years and has been involved in the Chamber for many of those. He is Chair of the Chamber’s Bedford Business Group and is also custodian of the Bedfordshire Business Ambassadors programme, a scheme aimed at promoting inward investment to the county.
The Chamber also welcomed four new Board members: Andy Gilson of Vauxhall Motors, Richard Cooper of ASA Business Development, Keren Wilkins of Lockheed Martin and Mark West of Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation.
