Whitley Bay Chamber of Trade elects new committee

Press Release 23/04/09

 

START

North East businessman Bill Midgley has been elected to the Chair of Whitley Bay Chamber of Trade at a meeting of members at the Windsor Hotel in Whitley Bay on Tuesday 21st April.

Members voted for a new Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary and Treasurer following the recent resignation of former Chairman, Alan Moses. Alan resigned in March due to personal reasons after 12 years of service to the Chamber.

 

Positions taken by:

 

Bill Midgley OBE, Chair – Bill lives in Whitley Bay and has long been a high-profile figure in the North East business community. His career in financial services resulted in him spending two decades with the Newcastle Building Society where he was Chief Executive and latterly Executive Vice Chairman, before retiring in 1998. Since his retirement Bill has continued in a number of non-executive roles, also becoming President of the North East Chamber of Commerce and Chairman of Durham County Cricket Club, and has taken the opportunity to expand his interests in various businesses and charities, both on a local and national basis. In addition he writes a regular column for the Newcastle Journal. In 2009, Bill was awarded an OBE in the New Year Honours List.

Karen Goldfinch, Vice Chair – Karen has 20 years retail management experience in both large city centre department stores, and local high street shops. Owner of Made to Treasure, a gift and wedding shop in the centre of town, Karen wants to make sure Whitley Bay is recognised as a destination to go to for the wide range of mainly independent businesses it currently offers. Made to Treasure was runner up in the 2009 North Tyneside Small Business Retail Awards. Born and bred in Whitley Bay, Karen feels very passionate about the town. She also regularly works with The Education Business Partnerships, offering placements for young talented art students to work alongside her to develop their design and employability skills.

June Tolson, Secretary – June, an ex-Civil Servant, is a partner at Shutterspeed on Park View and has, in the past, been the Secretary of the Whitley Bay Business and Tourism Association.

Gavin Hennessy, Treasurer – A qualified chartered certified accountant, he was until recently a partner at Robson Laidler LLP in Jesmond before joining Culture Quarter, who's ambition is to drive the renaissance of culture and the arts in Whitley Bay including being involved with the revival of the town’s iconic Dome landmark.

 

END

Editors’ Notes: For further information or a photograph opportunity contact Paul Irwin on 07860 747354

For comment contact: Chair, Bill Midgley 07960 858810

 

Vice Chair, Karen Goldfinch 07870 228064