FORMER jungle warfare instructor James Ramsbotham has been appointed to lead the North East Chamber of Commerce (NECC).

Mr Ramsbotham will leave his post as vice-chairman of North-East construction company the Esh Group, where he had an influential role in its expansion, to take over as chief executive.

Maggie Pavlou, president of the NECC, which has 4,200 members collectively employing a third of the region's workforce, said: "The strength of the shortlist for this critical post illustrated what a pivotal role it is to lead the most important business membership organisation in this region.

"James Ramsbotham has a phenomenal background and proven business expertise.

"He is a strong advocate for this region. He is actively involved at the core of the skills agenda and he is passionate about making the North-East economy much stronger and more vibrant. He will be a tremendous asset to the NECC and its members."

Mr Ramsbotham, 46, the son of Sir David Ramsbotham, who was HM Chief Inspector of Prisons between 1993 and 2000, spent his early years in Corbridge, Northumberland. He is a graduate of Durham University and Harvard Business School.

He was employed by Barclays for 15 years, working his way from management trainee to marketing director in the larger business banking division at the London head office.

Before that, he was with the Royal Green Jackets for 12 years, serving in Borneo as a jungle warfare instructor and also in counter-terrorism in Canada before the Calgary Winter Olympics.

The Sandhurst-trained Army officer also served in Germany, Gibraltar, Hong Kong, Northern Ireland and the US.

Married, with two children, he lives in Wolsingham, County Durham, and has dedicated considerable time to the skills agenda in the region and is the serving chairman of the North-East Learning and Skills Council.

He said: "My priority will be to do everything I can to ensure that the North-East fights its corner and takes every opportunity to punch above its weight.

"Skills will be a major issue and I think it is a really crucial one for the North-East.

"I hope to carry on the good work the chamber has been doing on transport. I am also very pleased to see recent indications that the manufacturing sector, so important to the region, has been feeling quite confident recently.

"One area I also hope to look at is helping the private sector, public sector and voluntary sector all work together for the good of the North-East."

Since his appointment to the Esh Group as vice-chairman in January 2004, Mr Ramsbotham has been responsible for a range of external relations and has played an important role in the dramatic growth of the company, which has trebled its turnover to £100m in the past four years.

Mr Ramsbotham replaces George Cowcher, who left at the beginning of March.