Glasgow Chamber elects lawyer as new president and boosts board

Glasgow Chamber of Commerce has installed Neil Amner as its new president for a two-year term.

Amner, a partner with MacRoberts Solicitors, has a strong track record and profile as one of Scotland’s leading transport, environmental and parliamentary lawyers.

He succeeds Vic Emery, former chair of the Scottish Police Authority. His deputy for the term is Jim McHarg, head of learning and HR business partner at Weir Group plc.

At its AGM, Glasgow Chamber also made two new additions to its board of management, and elected three new directors to its ruling council.

The new board members are Amanda McMillan, managing director of Glasgow Airport and chief executive of AGS Airports Limited, and Isabella Miller, head of branch at John Lewis Partnership Glasgow.

Stepping down from the Board are Scott Taylor, chief executive of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, and former president Varry McMenemy, with McMenemy remaining a director.

The full board of management now consists of Neil Amner, Jim McHarg, Vic Emery, Amanda McMillan, Isabella Miller, STV’s HR and communications director Suzanne Burns, Holdfast Entertainment Group director Brian Fulton and City of Glasgow College principal and chief executive Paul Little.

The new Council directors are Scott McKerracher, Bank of Scotland’s senior manager for Glasgow and the West of Scotland; Andrew Sime, IBM’s Scotland Enterprise business director and Gerry O’Donnell, Edrington’s corporate affairs director.

Speaking after his election, Mr Amner said: “I am excited to become Chamber president, and impressed by the additions to our board and ruling council. They join us at a time of major development for the Chamber, where we will focus on increasing our influence as a delivery and policy partner in championing Glasgow and achieving the aims and objectives of the city’s economic strategy. The new board members and directors bring their wide experience as senior players with some of the city’s most important companies and organisations, to augment the expertise that already we have in our existing members.

“Over the next two years I can promise that we will be continuously improving the value of membership via campaigning on important policy issues such as transport and connectivity on behalf of members, a programme of business events and networking including our Glasgow Talks influencer events, exporting and international trade support, affinity schemes, training and workforce development and much more.”

Glasgow Chamber chief executive Stuart Patrick said: “In Neil Amner and Jim McHarg we have a highly-experienced pairing at the helm. Neil is a recognised authority on transport and the environment and will bring that expertise to vital issues like High Speed Rail and the rail link to Glasgow Airport. Jim heads up the important skills agenda at a leading Scottish listed company. I know that with these new appointments and our board and council members we have a top team ready to meet all the challenges.

“At this point I would like to especially recognise the contribution made to the Chamber and to Glasgow over recent years by Scott Taylor, who is stepping down from our Board and soon from Glasgow City Marketing Bureau. What he has brought to both will be valued for many years.”