JANE Dellar, who returned to the Isle of Man three years ago, because she was ‘homesick’ for the island, has taken over as the new chief executive of the Chamber of Commerce.
She replaces Mike Hennessy in the hot seat. He has a new high powered role with financial company Kleinwort Benson.
At the same time as her three day a week job with the Chamber, she is embarking on a new business venture, a coffee shop in Athol Street, Douglas.
She said this will give her hands-on experience of the challenges involved in launching a new business.
Ms Dellar, who took over in the hot seat on Friday, said: ‘Business will clearly be the fundamental engine of growth for the Manx economy and I am honoured to be joining the Chamber at this time to help provide tangible support for members during these increasingly challenging times and Chamber’s continuous development as the island’s premier business lobby group.
‘The Chamber of Commerce is a vital interface between government and the private sector and works tirelessly to ensure that enterprise is encouraged and hard work rewarded.
‘Our role is to provide a voice across all business sectors large and small, from corner-shop retailers to the largest multinational financial institutions’.
Ms Dellar previously headed Isle of Man Finance for the Treasury before moving to Bahrain as managing director of the Economic Development Board.
She relocated back to the Isle of Man three years ago and operates a consultancy service for company directors.
Shortly after returning to the island she told Business News she had been made most welcome in Bahrain but ‘I was homesick for my adopted Isle of Man’. She also told Business News at the time that she thought there was a shortage of leading women in business finance posts in the island and added: ‘There is a marked absence of women in senior positions. The glass ceiling has certainly not broken.’
As Ms Dellar took over the Chamber job last Friday she said: ‘My career has mostly been in finance, but I am also in the process of launching the Coffee Exchange in Athol Street at the end of March with broadcaster Stuart Peters, which has given me a real hands-on understanding of the challenges facing anyone starting a new business from scratch in 2013’.
Chamber of Commerce president Mike Shaw said: ‘After a rigorous selection process, for which the high quality of candidates was a reassurance to the interviewing panel, we are confident that our final selection will soon be able to put her personal stamp on this, at times, complex role. I am certain Jane will make a positive and dynamic contribution to Chamber and the island’s development.’
