Chamber chief set to retire

Mike Damms, who earned an MBE in 2008 for services to business in the North West, has announced he will retire in the spring.

As well as his role as chief executive of the Chamber of Commerce East Lancashire, which he held for 23 years, he played active roles in a number of organisations and projects including the Lancashire Economic Partnership, Lancashire Strategic Manufacturing Group and the Pennine Lancashire Employment and Skills Board.

Mike Damms told Lancashire Business View: “Over my time at the Chamber we have flown an often lonely flag championing and supporting manufacturing and international trade and refusing to accept the decline of East Lancashire as inevitable.

“The area is clearly now 'on the up' and exports and manufacturing are properly regarded as an essential part of a modern economy. The Chamber is also on a good financial footing, has a greatly skilled and experienced team and is able to earn money outside and reinvest the profits in East Lancashire. I'll be 66 by the time I retire and it is an opportune time for my successor to take on the baton and build on this platform and see in the 'post-brexit' and digital era.”

He added: “I've had the privilege of working with many inspirational people in both the private and public sector, and have the greatest regard for the businesses that make up the local economy - it will be hard not to miss them.

“I'll track Lancashire's progress with interest; if it seizes its opportunities it can make its mark on the world all over again.” The chamber said it is currently considering what the chief executive's role will involve for the next stage of the organisation, East Lancashire and Lancashire's development before making appropriate arrangements to identify and recruit a suitable successor.