ONE of the leading figures in the area's business community is to step down after 10 years at the helm.

Mike Ashton, chief executive of Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce, has announced his planned retirement and will leave the post on Friday, March 31 next year. He became chief executive in May 2007 and has been instrumental in taking the company forward as a leading Chamber, recognised as the British Chambers of Commerce chamber of the year in 2013. More recently, the Chamber achieved the Investors in People gold award, an outstanding achievement which highlights the company’s continued commitment to its staff.

This year has seen the biggest ever business awards dinner, held at the Worcester Arena, with more than 550 people attending, while last week, the Chamber held its biggest ever Business Expo at the Three Counties Showground, Malvern, which attracted more than 1,000 visitors and guests. The Chamber now has responsibility for delivering Visit Herefordshire, Visit Worcestershire, Worcestershire Business Central and, of course, the Department for International Trade contract for export support.

Mr Ashton said: "Herefordshire and Worcestershire have a significant number of excellent businesses and it has been a pleasure and privilege to support them and work with them over the years. I am, of course, here until the end of March and look to continue to build on the strengths of the Chamber, particularly building those strong relationships with the public sector. Beyond my chief executive role and into 2017/18, I look to continue to do some work in Worcestershire supporting Inward Investment opportunities.”

Gary Woodman, chief executive of Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership, added: Mike has had a truly fantastic impact on businesses across all of the county. In his 10 years as CEO, the H&W Chamber of Commerce has grown its reputation significantly and to achieve a British Chambers of Commerce ‘Chamber of the Year’ award in 2013 just goes to show the level of progress under Mike’s leadership. I am sure I join the rest of the local business community in wishing Mike the best for his future after retirement.”

A big supporter of enterprise and economic development, he was the former head of enterprise development at Liverpool John Moores University and chief executive of Chamberlink, the Business Link/Chamber Services Company for Greater Manchester. Mr Ashton has also been chairman of a Young Enterprise region and values the input that education can make to the development of young people and their ability to develop their business acumen.

He studied a sports science degree at Liverpool John Moores University and competed for his county and region in badminton and tennis.

Mr Ashton leaves the Chamber in a strong position with two newly appointed board members. Its chairman Jim McBride and the board will be looking to recruit a successor during the coming months.