Mr Little succeeds Jim McHarg, HR director at Trillium Flow Technologies. His deputy for the term is Gillian Docherty, CEO of Data Lab.

The chamber also added Carol Henry, Arnold Clark’s Group people director, to its board of management, and elected three new directors to its ruling council.

Its board of management now consists of Paul Little, Gillian Docherty, Jim McHarg, Holdfast Entertainment Group director and chair of Sauchiehall Street BID Brian Fulton, Carol Henry, University of Glasgow senior vice principal Neal Juster, St Enoch Centre general manager and chair of the City Centre Retail Assiciation Anne Ledgerwood and John Lewis Glasgow head of branch Isabella Miller.

The new council directors are BIG Partnership founding director Neil Gibson, CYBG plc’s UK head of regional banking Robert Gibson and Evelyn Walker of Walker Gordon Associates.

Paul Little said: “It’s an honour to be asked to be the President of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, following in the footsteps of Jim and his predecessors in the hard work they have all done.

“I would pay particular tribute to Jim’s contribution in supporting the Chamber’s international trade work. He has personally represented the Chamber in Germany, Italy and most recently on the Chamber’s mission to Shanghai. He has also taken on responsibilities with the British Chambers of Commerce, chairing the Scottish Regional Assembly.

“It is also under Jim’s leadership that the Chamber initiated the creation of a new positive Glasgow Business Story in partnership with Glasgow Airport and Glasgow City Council.

“I am especially keen that the Chamber maintains its healthy relationships with Team Glasgow. A refreshed Glasgow Economic Strategy will be published with investment in Innovation Districts, the delivery of the Connectivity Commission and the growth of new and well-established industries all likely to feature.

“We also have much work to do to help the city centre respond to the rise of online trading and we will make our contribution to a revised Cit Centre Strategy.

“I am also eager that the Chamber supports the proposal announced by Derek Mackay to give a major boost to the ongoing redevelopment and revitalisation of the River Clyde. We have called for a second round of City Deal funding and the cabinet secretary’s initiative could be the opportunity to make that happen.

“We will continue our work in championing Glasgow’s Business Story, helping to maintain and distribute the Glasgow bragging book to help our members attract investment and trade to the city.”

Little paid tribute to James Andrew, retiring after 14 years of service, including two years as President from 2010-12, saying he played a central role in shaping the Chamber of today.

Stuart Patrick, Glasgow Chamber chief executive, added: “In Paul Little and Gillian Docherty we have a highly-experienced pairing at the helm. Paul has masterminded the creation of Glasgow’s very successful supercollege, which has quickly become a vital part of the city’s further education offering, and Gillian heads up a company at the heart of an industry vital to the future of Scottish business.”