BRITAIN's biggest chamber of commerce has a new president.

John Irwin, 52, was elected as the North-East Chamber of Commerce's new president at its annual general meeting at the Ramside Hotel, in Durham yesterday.

He replaces Nigel Sherlock who stood down a year into the normal two-year position, after his appointment as Lord Lieutenant of Tyne and Wear.

Tyneside-born Mr Irwin, 52, now a partner at Storey Sons and Parker's Teesside office, had a simple message for the region's businesses: "Stop the parochial squabbling. An internal power struggle will hold back the region. We need a more united approach for Government assistance."

Mr Irwin believes the Chamber, as a successful regional organisation, is well placed to lead by example in the drive to increase prosperity and job opportunities which will help close the North-South divide.

He said: "Of course there are sub regional differences and these should be recognised and built upon rather than discouraged. The North-East works best when it works together."

The new president said he believed The North-East Chamber is best placed to work with the many Government funded bodies seeking comment and advice from regional and local businesses.

"We need to get Teesside behind projects like the Baltic Arts development and get Tyneside behind the art gallery initiative in Middlesbrough (part of a £3m regeneration of the town centre).

"The Chamber is the only business support organisation with a well established regional structure supported by staff based at premises in all the sub regions. For that reason it is unique in that it can help with both specialist and general advice from regional and local perspectives.

He added: "With more and more emphasis being placed on regional strategy and local implementation, the Chamber must ensure that businesses in all the sub regions play a part in shaping the future of the North East. A united region can only be a stronger region."

Tyneside-born Mr Irwin is married with three children.

Educated in Lancashire and London, he began working with Storey Sons and Parker in Newcastle in 1970. He moved to the Middlesbrough office in 1980 and, for the past 18 years has been a director and partner.

He is a past president of the Teesside Chamber, and chair of Tees Valley Tomorrow. Until his election as regional president he has been an elected member director of the British Chambers of Commerce.

l A full report on the hand over of power at the North-East Chamber of Commerce will be carried in the Business 2001 quarterly review, published on Tuesday, June 26.