Dundee and Angus Chamber of Commerce has appointed vice-president Alison Henderson as intern chief executive while the organisation continues its hunt for a new full time boss.
The body - which represents more than 400 members in Dundee and Angus with in excess of 35,000 employees - is seeking a replacement for chatered marketeer Sandra Burke, who has stepped down because of ill health.
Applications for the role, which attracts a salary of around £45,000 plus the potential for performance-related bonuses, are now open.
Chamber president and city property developer Tim Allan said work to attract a successor had now kicked-off in earnest, with prominent local businesswoman Ms Henderdon takin gover post as an interim measure.
\"The chief executive will be appointed by the end October,\" Mr Allan said. \"We want applications in by September 12, and hopefully they will be in place soon after that.
\"Sandra started a job of work which has a different feel for the Chamber of Commerce. She was on the front foot and an energetic public face for the Chamber. What we need is to carry that work on.\"
Mr Allan said the organisation\'s desire for a greater public profile should be matched with an expanded board, featuring more talent across the breadth of the region\'s businesses and helping to drive the expansion of the small organisation.
He said the Chamber had recruited \"very effectively\" over the last four months, with new faces bringing energy and direction to the body;s membership offer and training initiatives.
A new \'training academy\' programme has been launched to boost participation in the Chamber\'s range of seminars and workshops, while the event calendar is also being overhauled.
Mr Allan said helping to train and represent colleagues is \"what an engaged and relevant business community does\".
He hopes to establish a consultative buisness panel to enable the Chamber to quickly take the temperature of its members in response to particular issues, and also wants to engage those sectors not currently represented in the group\'s membership.
\"People\'s desire to engage in the civic community and civic life is changing in the front of our eyes, and the Chamber must work hard to become relevant to all buisness across our region,\" Mr Allan added.
Ms Burke announced she would be stepping down \"with deep regret\" early last month.
During almost 18 months in the post, she spearheaded development of a new strategic plan for the organisation and helped build its core business membership locally.
Mr Allan has said his net would be \"cast wide\" in the search for her replacement.
The \"highly visible and influential role\" requires \"energy and enthusiam as well as considerable commitment, diplomacy, commercial acumen and operational efficiency,\" according to the published job description.
\"The role is varied and demanding, but offers a unique opportunity to work with a wide range of businesses towards the overall goal of helping to grow a more prosperous and successful local economy in Dundee and Angus,\" it adds.
Ms Henderson said she hoped to act as a \"natural bridge\" for the organisation, providing continuity until a new chief executive was appointed.
Members heard updates on the work of the Chamber at the group\'s annual general meeting and showcase evening at the Carnousite Golf Hotel on Thursday.
The Courier, Local Matters Business.
Friday, August 29, 2014
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