London First and the London Chamber of Commerce (LCC) have completed negotiations on their planned merger into London Chamber First, a new organisation representing business in the capital.
The boards of both organisations have approved the merger, which will be voted on by members at general meetings of each body before the end of September. London Chamber First should be up and running by 1 October.
The merged body’s joint presidents will be London First chair Lord Sheppard and LCC president Sir Christopher Benson. Sir Christopher’s wide-ranging career has included stints chairing LDDC, MEPC and the Housing Corporation, and he is a senior partner at GVA Grimley. London First chief executive Stephen O’Brien will perform the same role at the new body, with Gulam Noon as its deputy president.
Lord Sheppard and Sir Christopher said of the merger: “It will create a powerful, single business voice for London, improving services to our members and their representation. It will encourage an integrated approach to inward investment and trade. It will promote synergies surrounding Business Link and enterprise support at a local level. Finally, it will, where appropriate, facilitate partnerships between the single business organisation and the public and voluntary sectors.”
EGi News 01/08/01
