South: Hampshire Chamber of Commerce appoints new CEO

The board of Hampshire Chamber of Commerce has appointed Stewart Dunn to the position of CEO with effect from February 2014. This follows the announcement earlier this year that current CEO Jimmy Chestnutt was stepping down to take retirement after being in position for nine years. 

Dunn is currently managing director of Carswell Gould, an award-winning integrated marketing communications agency in Southampton. His previous roles in the newspaper industry included managing director of Newsquest Hampshire where he was responsible for the publishing of the award-winning Southern Daily Echo and Hampshire Chronicle as well as the development of digital publishing.

He commented: “I am really looking forward to taking up my appointment as CEO at this very exciting time for the organisation as government recognises, through the Heseltine report, that the Chamber is the first choice for helping to deliver business growth for the region.”

Outgoing CEO Jimmy Chestnutt said: “I fully support this appointment. Stewart will bring a wealth of business and media experience to the Chamber which will be invaluable in supporting the Chamber’s initiatives for business growth in the months ahead.”

Dunn is well known to the Chamber having been a former president of Southampton and Fareham and a director of Hampshire Chamber. He was awarded an honorary doctorate in 2011 by Southampton Solent University for his contribution to the media industry.