RAY JOHNSON has been appointed as the new chairman of the Channel Chamber of Commerce.

Mr Johnson, who was the vice-chair of the organisation, takes over following the retirement of Stuart Brown.

Mr Johnson runs the Folkestone-based Independent Insurance Services. He has been a director of Shepway Chamber of Commerce, renamed as the Channel Chamber earlier this year, since 1998. He is a board member of the Kent Sustainable Business Partnership and assists the General Insurance Standards Council, the regulatory body of the insurance industry.

Mr Johnson said: "There are many opportunities for the growth of the chamber both in membership terms and in the range of quality services its offers the business community of south east Kent. Our role is to help businesses succeed and our recently announced plans for growth mean that we will be able to evolve to meet the challenges of the times.

"Through information and advisory services, training programmes, seminars, networking events and links with other business support organisations, regional and national, we provide members with a wealth of experience and expertise to help them meet increasing pressures.

"As the first port of call when businesses require assistance, the Channel Chamber should be a must join organisation. I want it to continue to develop ways of demonstrating why."