Martin Traynor OBE, Group Chief Executive, Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce.

Born in South Wales, Martin has extensive experience in the hospitality industry having worked in hotel management for 22 years. Having served as the President of Loughborough Chamber of Trade, he became the President of the Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce in 1999, which led, two years later in 2001, to his current role as the Chamber’s Group Chief Executive.

Martin’s role with the Leicestershire Chamber means that he works closely with the Leicestershire business community representing their views to local, regional and national Government.

Over the past 15 years, Martin has been actively involved in a number of key regeneration projects in both Leicester and Leicestershire. In 1995, he chaired the Loughborough Partnership, which secured funding for the town’s regeneration. In 2002, when the Regional Development Agency agreed to set up Sub-Regional Strategic Partnerships, Martin worked with the local authorities to establish the Leicester Shire Economic Partnership, where he has served as both Deputy Chairman and Chairman.

As Chair of Connexions Service for Leicester and Leicestershire, Martin works closely with a team of professionals who provide confidential advice and support to 13-19 year olds, on issues such as learning, careers and health.

From 2003 – 2009, Martin served as Chair of the East Midlands Regional Assembly’s Scrutiny Board, which is the body that has the statutory responsibility for scrutinising the work of our Regional Development Agency, emda.

In the 2007, Martin was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s New Years Honours for ‘services to business and the community of the East Midlands’.