BRITAIN'S biggest chamber, the North- East Chamber of Commerce, has a new president.

John Irwin, a director and partner in the Teesside office of Storey Sons and Parker, has taken over the role from Nigel Sherlock.

The role of president is normally a two-year job, but Mr Sherlock has handed over the chains of office a year ahead of schedule due to his appointment as Lord Lieutenant of Tyne and Wear.

Tynesider Mr Irwin, based on Teesside for the past 20 years, set out his agenda for the next two years at the chamber's annual general meeting, held recently at the Ramside Hall Hotel, near Durham.

He told the assembled businessmen and women that a more united approach to campaigns for Government assistance and private sector inward investment were what the region needed.

He believes internal power struggles within the chamber, between the different sub-regions, would hold back the chamber's development.

He said: "There are sub-regional differences within the North-East, but these are something that we should make a strength. They should be recognised and built upon.

"The North-East works best when it works together."

He said the time was right for Teesside to get behind Tyneside and vice-versa. Projects such as the Baltic Arts Development on the south side of the Tyne should be supported by Teesside, while the development of an art gallery in Middlesbrough, should be backed, in turn, by Tyneside.

Mr Irwin said the chamber was well placed to give advice to the new Government on issues not just affecting the region, but the country as a whole.

He said he looked forward to working with Government-funded bodies seeking comment and advice from regional and local businesses.

"The North-East Chamber is the only business support organisation with a well established regional structure supported by staff based at premises across the region, he said.

"For that reason it is unique in that it can help with both specialist and general advice from regional and local perspectives."

The North-East chamber has offices in the Tees Valley, Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle, Sunderland, North Tyneside, South Tyneside and Northumberland.

Mr Irwin said: "With more and more emphasis being placed on regional strategy and local implementation, the chamber must ensure that business in all the sub regions play a part in shaping the future of the North-East. A united region will be a stronger region."

Born on Tyneside and educated in Lancashire and London, Mr Irwin joined Storey Sons and Parker in Newcastle in 1970.

He moved to the Middlesbrough office in 1980 and has been a director and partner in the firm for the past 18 years.

He is the past president of the Teesside Chamber of Commerce and has been involved in the organisation for 20 years.

Until his election as regional president he was an elected member director of the British Chambers of Commerce, and is currently chairman of Tees Valley Tomorrow.

His aim for his presidency is to see the chamber grow and create greater prosperity for the region. He said: "The Chamber, as a successful regional organisation, is well placed to lead by example in the drive to increased prosperity and job opportunities which will help to close the North-South divide."

Handing over to the new president, Mr Sherlock, said: "I am standing down from the office of president a year early because I feel I cannot do justice to the position and that of Lord Lieutenant of Tyne and Wear at the same time.

"I feel it would not be fair to the region to try to do so. However, in John Irwin, I am leaving the chamber in safe hands."

He added: "The North-East Chamber claims to be the independent voice of business in the region. We can only be regarded as such by continuing to build from our local bases.

"To help in that building process we need the effective allocation of resources, directed at our low levels of enterprise, education and environmental blackspots, which are the legacy of our past.

"Control over this expenditure should be informed by those who know the region. I believe under the guidance of John Irwin, this chamber will be able to aid in that process and grow stronger into the bargain. I wish him all the best as president."