Hampshire Chamber of Commerce has appointed additional board members to strengthen its role as the region’s independent voice of business.
Each incoming director brings strategic commercial experience coupled with close involvement in the Chamber’s area committee structure.
Chief Executive Stewart Dunn said: “The appointments represent the most significant strengthening of our board since the countywide chamber was formed in 2010 with the merger of our three previous local chambers.
“The new members have been chosen from a very competitive field of applicants and will provide better links between the board and the various area committees.”
Among the five are Paul Griffiths, Head of Operations at the award-winning Mary Rose Museum in Portsmouth and Managing Director of its commercial arm, Mary Rose Trading Ltd.
They are joined by Hendry Taylor, head of Andover consultancy Taylored IT, and Bipin Joshi, Joint Managing Director of Aldershot company Shield Security Services.
There are also two senior figures from Hampshire’s legal community. Nick Barwood is a Southampton partner at law firm Bond Dickinson while Winchester-based insurance specialist Andrew Tilley is a partner and chairman of Dutton Gregory.
Mr Dunn added: “The passion, capabilities and experience of our new team will put us in a more robust and sustainable position to support and represent our members as we continue to emerge from the recession and seize the opportunities afforded by economic growth.”
The board’s first meeting of 2015 follows a New Year honour for non-executive director Jan Ward, Chief Executive of Hampshire-based international metals supplier, Corrotherm. She was made a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) for services to business.