Lord Digby Jones in Bristol

One of the country’s most acclaimed business commentators will be giving a keynote address to the region’s business community in Bristol this October.

Lord Digby Jones, former Director General of the CBI, is speaking at a special dinner organised by the Rotary Club of Bristol setting out what businesses in the region need to do to succeed in a century that will be dominated by Asia.

The business guru, in demand for his insightful views throughout the world, will speak at the new Grace Room in the Bristol Pavilion at Gloucester County Cricket Ground in Nevil Road, Bristol.

Ron Stagg, President of the Rotary Club of Bristol said: “Lord Digby Jones has agreed to speak in Bristol to raise funds for Rotary charities and also for a cancer charity that he supports.

“As a world business traveller, who has acted as an adviser to Governments, he will be giving businesses in this region an insight into how they fit into the global picture.

“Business decisions taken in Asia quickly have an impact in the South West in these fast-moving times and Lord Digby Jones has met with business leaders, Government officials and bankers all over the world. We expect this to be a lively evening where businesses can pick the brains of someone who has acted as an ambassador for British business.”

Lord Digby Jones has represented some of Britain’s best-known brands abroad as Chairman of Triumph Motorcycles, corporate ambassador for Jaguar Cars and corporate advisor to JCB. From July 2007 to October 2008 he served as the United Kingdom Minister of State for Trade & Investment accepting a lifetime peerage in the House of Lords where he now sits on the cross benches and is known as Digby, Lord Jones of Birmingham.

During his 15 months in Ministerial office he made 45 overseas visits, travelling to 31 different countries and meeting with the world’s top business leaders and politicians. He changed the way that UK Trade & Investment was perceived in delivering a record year for inward investment and expanding the UK’s presence in all of the major international markets. Following his departure from Ministerial office he was appointed as a Business Ambassador for UK Trade & Investment until March 2013.

Tickets for the event, which includes a four course dinner with wine, on Tuesday October 22 are £75 with discounts for group bookings. Ticket applications can be made by contacting Ron Stagg, 7a Glenavon Park, Bristol, BS9 1RS. Email [email protected].