A NEW director of the Chamber of Commerce has taken over the reins. Mike Collins trained as a physicist and worked in Geneva, moving to the island in 1982 to pursue a career in electronic engineering and manufacturing.
He ran Dynotech Medical Products for 15 years before becoming managing director for International Computer Consultants and has been a member of chamber for 10 years.
‘I am really pleased to be taking on this job and am looking forward to it,’ he said.
‘It is going to be quite a challenge. There are lots of things going on in terms of government changes, which we will be trying to follow in the interest of the business members.
‘We will try and make sure that our members are not affected by the changes and business goes on as normal.’
Chamber has already reorganised its subcommittee structure to shadow every newly-created department.
‘We have redirected ourselves and there are only 10 departments now, so it should make our job more efficient,’ he said.
Mr Collins has previously sat on the IoD committee and was chairman of G-Mex. He has been shadowing the director role for the last year and said he saw the main role of the chamber as representing its business members.
‘We represent our members so that they can carry on in Guernsey. They run on their own merits, but they also need a network and collaboration to make sure all the facilities are there for them.’
He said that his time working with Rodney Reed, the outgoing director, had put him in a position to ensure a seamless transfer and to be able to carry a great tradition forward.
Mr Reed became director in May 1994, also after a career in electronic engineering. He said that he had greatly enjoyed his time with chamber and working with a series of hardworking presidents. Ten years had given him a closer insight into the running of the island and he had been amazed at the amount of effort and enthusiasm people were prepared to put into organisations such as chamber, as well as running their own business and employment issues.
‘Being a member gives you an insight into how Guernsey works. Every month the council of the chamber of Commerce studies the Billet, so that is 10 years of reading it.
‘It also gives you an opportunity to serve on a lot of committees,’ he said.
Mr Reed has also sat on the Crime Prevention Panel and Transport Guernsey.
The announcement of the handover was made at the chamber’s annual meeting and Mr Reed said that he was delighted to pass over responsibility and to see Mr Collins bring in new ideas and fresh enthusiasm. Mr Reed will continue to be a member of chamber.
His dedication and hard work as director were praised by chamber president Mark Gill, who said that Mr Reed had been a real stalwart.
Article posted on 5th May, 2004 - 12.00am
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