Glasgow Chamber appoints two new directors

Glasgow Chamber of Commerce has made two additions, drawn from the city’s business community, to its ruling Council.

Peter Duthie, chief executive of the newly-rebranded Scottish Event Campus, and Anne Ledgerwood, general manager of St. Enoch Centre, were confirmed as new directors at the Chambers’ ARM on Monday.

The AGM also saw lawyer Neil Amner, consultant with Curle Stewart, continue as President for a second year. His deputy once again is Jim McHarg, head of learning and HR business partner at Weir Group.

Chamber chief executive Stuart Patrick, said: “Peter and Anne join us from key sectors for the city – conferences and events, and retail - and will boost our knowledge and experience at a time of increasing activity in the growth of the Glasgow’s economy and at an important time for the Chamber and for the city.

“At this point I’d like to place on the record our thanks to Claire, who has been a fantastic servant to the Chamber, both as president and as a director. We owe her a real debt of gratitude.”

“Recent months have been dominated by the Brexit vote, and we joined the City Council and the Glasgow Economic Leadership Board in publishing a full report on the impact. It is a valuable summary of actions which the Council, the Chamber and GEL collectively agreed would help tackle some of the issues which Brexit presents.

“The report may be the only example across the UK of a city’s collective business, academic and political voice on the subject.

“I come from the premise that Glasgow Chamber has argued consistently for over two hundred years against trade barriers, whether these be tariffs, regulatory hurdles or unhelpful bureaucratic documentation requirements.

“Whatever else you may think about the European Union, the single market has been a wholescale experiment in removing those barriers and so there is a logic that in arguing for minimal barriers the debate takes you step by step towards some form of single market. Where will we stand though if it’s a Hard Brexit, as one might conclude from the Prime Minister’s speech?

“No matter what the outcome, business must carry on regardless. That is where the Chamber will be concentrating its efforts in the next 12 months – on promoting trading opportunities with Glasgow business, encouraging investment in the Glasgow economy and in promoting the Chamber’s members at every opportunity.”