THE Barnsley and Rotherham Chamber of Commerce has appointed its new president.

Experienced business owner Matt Travis took over from the outgoing president Matthew Stephens at the group’s recent annual general meeting which was held at Barnsley Civic.

With a background in planning and environmental consultancy, Matt co-founded environmental and planning consultancy Enzygo in 2008.

The event also saw business consultant and founder of IEKOS, Hayley Koseoglu appointed as vice president, and Mark Smith join Barnsley and Rotherham Chamber’s senior leadership team as deputy vice president.

Matt said: “Chambers of commerce hold a truly unique place in the communities they serve and we should be proud of our achievements over the past 12 months.

“However, we cannot afford to rest on our laurels, and with many businesses in the region facing uncertain futures, Barnsley and Rotherham Chamber will continue to do everything in its power to create an environment where businesses of all sizes can unlock their full potential.

“The budget was a difficult one for many businesses, and one of my top priorities will be to work closely with South Yorkshire’s members of parliament to ensure their concerns are heard.

“I feel particularly proud of the steps the Chamber has made towards building stronger local supply chains, and as a direct result of this work, more than £70m has been retained within the local economy over the past year alone.

“I first joined Barnsley and Rotherham Chamber shortly after launching my own business.

“In my new role as president, I am looking forward to working alongside our 1,100-strong membership and helping to create an environment where businesses of all sizes across South Yorkshire can truly prosper.”