A REGIONAL body supporting firms wanting to trade overseas has appointed a new chief executive.David Riches takes up his post at East of England International (EEI) within three months.

A REGIONAL body supporting firms wanting to trade overseas has appointed a new chief executive.

David Riches takes up his post at East of England International (EEI) within three months.

EEI chairman Sir Robin Young described Mr Riches as “the best of a strong field of candidates” and said he brought “a huge range of skills and experience” to the role.

He replaces James Gray, who has left to become executive director business development at the Economic Development Board of Bahrain.

Mr Riches is currently involved in Think London, the foreign direct investment agency for London, as a member of the executive team and as its North American director.

His previous roles include strategy and corporate development director at Cable & Wireless plc and strategy consultant for Ernst & Young Management Consulting.

Mr Riches lives in St Albans and gained an MBA from the Cranfield School of Management in 1997. He has a first class honours degree in politics and East Asian studies, and learnt Mandarin Chinese at university in Taiwan.

Sir Robin has appointed Janis Cammell OBE as acting chief executive until Mr Riches takes up his role.

Until recently, she was head of policy at the co-ordination and regional unit of the inward investment group at UK Trade & Investment.

She was awarded an OBE for her outstanding contribution to the promotion of foreign direct investment into the UK. She has recently worked as a consultant to Essex County Council on inward investment.

Mr Riches said he was “delighted” to have been chosen for the role.

“The East of England goes from strength to strength with a reputation for world-leading ideas and innovation,” he said.

“I am looking forward to building on the significant success already achieved. It will also be exciting to work with the highly professional and talented EEI team.”