Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce has appointed a new Chief Executive.

Stuart Elford has been appointed as the Chief Executive of Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce after serving as Chief Executive of Devon Chamber of Commerce for nearly seven years.

He will join the Chamber in mid-April and is relocating to Staffordshire ahead of his start date.

A spokesperson for Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce described Stuart as a highly experienced Chamber leader and commercial professional, "bringing a strong record of organisational growth, income diversification and external representation built across the Chamber network, private enterprise and the third sector".

Stuart said: "I am delighted to be joining Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce and it's a real privilege to be part of an organisation with such strong foundations and ambition. I've been made to feel incredibly welcome by the team and Board.

"At a time when businesses are navigating both challenge and opportunity, the Chamber has a vital role to play in championing their voice and supporting growth. I'm looking forward to working with members and partners to build on that momentum and deliver real impact."

Stuart's background combines chief executive leadership, commercial growth, public-private partnership working and the delivery of business support and policy-facing programmes.

Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce celebrated Stuart's work at the Devon Chamber of Commerce, where he stabilised finances, diversified income streams, grew membership and patronage, and oversaw the merger with Exeter Chamber, helping to grow the organisation's turnover and profitability significantly.

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His appointment follows a 'rigorous' recruitment process, which included multiple interviews with the Recruitment Panel, a public relations exercise, psychometric testing and feedback from the Board and Patrons.

Steve Timmis, President of Staffordshire Chambers, added: "We are absolutely delighted to welcome Stuart to Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce.

"He brings exactly the kind of proven leadership, commercial acumen and Chamber expertise that will help us build on our strong foundations and drive real impact for businesses across the county.

"Stuart has a unique combination of operational expertise and external credibility that will serve Staffordshire's business community well.

"We also want to take this opportunity to thank Chris Plant and Tom Nadin for the way they have stepped up and led the Chamber during this interim period. Their commitment and dedication have been absolutely invaluable.

"On behalf of the Board and our fantastic team, I look forward to everything we will achieve together."