Local businessman Richard Ayre has been appointed chairman of the Institute of Directors (IoD) in the south west.
Ayre takes over from Gerry Jones who is standing down after four years in the role.
Ayre, who is MD at Falmouth-based educational publisher Clickety Books, said: “The south west has many excellent businesses across a rich variety of sectors so I’m very excited about this new role.
“A key focus will be to strengthen links between enterprise and education; the region has a wonderful university base and that power should be harnessed as a key economic driver.”
Ayre is a past chairman of the IoD’s Devon and Cornwall branch, sat on the Devon and Cornwall Business Council and was an executive member of the Plymouth Area Business Council.