Pictured above: David Waller
David Waller, one of Birmingham's most respected business
figures, was today (October 15) appointed Chairman of Birmingham
Chamber of Commerce Group (BCCG) board.
The former chairman and senior partner at the Birmingham offices
of accountants PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) will take up the role
immediately after his appointment was approved at today's meeting
of the BCCG Council.
Chamber members voted in October last year to create the new
role of Board Chairman to run alongside the well-established role
of President. The President will continue to be responsible for all
the Chamber's external and public affairs work, championing the
interests of members with key decision makers in government at
international, national and local level.
The Chairman, working closely with Chief Executive Jerry
Blackett, will be responsible for corporate business strategy and
governance. Mr. Waller's appointment is for three years.
Paul Bassi, outgoing President of Birmingham Chamber, said:
"This is a natural next move in the development of the Birmingham
Chamber Group. The Chamber in recent years has grown in complexity
and business activity as it has sought to deliver a range of
services wanted by its members.
"Much excellent progress has been achieved and David's
exceptional track record in business success together with his
close affiliation with the Midlands makes him the perfect choice
for this new appointment as we seek to drive yet further our
business ambitions."
Mr Waller, who held the 2007 title of West Midlands Ambassador
of the Year for Business in the Community from Prince Charles,
decided to step down from PwC in December 2008 in order to return
to a career in business.
The firm has the largest professional services practice in the
Midlands with more than 2,000 staff spread across three offices in
the West and East Midlands - 1,650 of them in Birmingham.
Before joining PwC, Mr Waller held a number of senior managerial
positions with Distillers, Kerrygold, and a global supermarket
retailer. He worked abroad for several years in the Far East,
Middle East and USA before returning to the UK.
He is married to Edwina and has a grown up family who are all
into equestrian sports.
Other appointments include chairmanships of Nexus Professional
Network, Network Group Holdings plc, Delami Investments and British
Edutrust as well as local appointments including Trustee of
Millennium Point Trust and Patron of St Giles Hospice.