BOLTON Wanderers Chairman Phil Gartside has welcomed the appointment of a new chief executive for the North West Chambers of Commerce.

Mr Gartside, who is chairman of North West Chambers Ltd, said: "The Board have felt for some time that a change of direction and injection of energy was needed for the organisation."

He was commenting on the appointment of Mike Baker, a former Regional Sales Director with ITV, who has been named Acting Chief Executive for North West Chambers of Commerce.

Mr Baker, who has already taken up his position, is charged with implementing a radical and far-reaching restructure of North West Chambers.

The restructure is designed to ensure the organisation emerges as a champion of its member Chambers and a strong voice of business in regional, national and international terms.

Mr Gartside continued: "Having worked previously with Mike in my Bolton Wanderers role, I am very pleased we have been able to recruit him for the critical task of implementing the business strategy put together by the Board."

Encompassing a new website and total re-branding of the company, the changes will see North West Chambers of Commerce become a communications and policy hub, serving member Chambers, the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) and other partner bodies, such as the Northwest Development Agency (NWDA).