New Chair Announced At Liverpool Chamber AGM

The Annual General Meeting of Liverpool Chamber Of Commerce CIC, held on 15 July 2010, Chairman Ed Oliver stepped down after two years in the role and almost a decade of service to Liverpool Chamber as an active member of both its Board and Council. The meeting endorsed Vice Chairman Neil Scales of Merseytravel , his successor.

Retiring Chair, Ed Oliver commented: "My time as Chair has been both challenging and rewarding. Despite the tough economic climate the Chamber has continued to offer excellent services and business growth opportunities to our members. For the past 160 years it has been the most influential business lobbying voice in the city and will continue its vital work, representing the city's business community under Neil's stewardship."

As Chief Executive and Director General since 1999, Neil has full responsibility for the operation of Merseytravel, which incorporates the Merseyside Passenger Transport Executive and Merseyside Passenger Transport Authority (PTA).

Merseytravel also owns and operates the famous Mersey Ferries and associated tourism attractions, Spaceport, U-Boat Story and Beatles story, which generate more than £34 million a year to the region's tourism economy and supports the equivalent of 742 full-time jobs. It also owns and operates the Mersey Tunnels, providing cross river links 365 days a year.

Neil Scales says: "I am looking forward to promoting the good work of the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce. It is an exciting challenge, working with the business community and decision makers, especially in this new world of fiscal retrenchment."

Neil has overseen the successful re-franchising of the Merseyrail Electrics Concession and is also heavily involved in the delivery of major public transport projects, including the construction and operation of the cutting edge Liverpool South Parkway multimodal transport interchange.