The Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce (AGCC) has launched a senior-level recruitment drive after its chief executive announced that he is to stand down.
Robert Collier is retiring as leader of the Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce by March 2016, having served seven years in the post.
Alec Carstairs, president of the chamber led tributes to Mr Collier, 60, who said he plans to commit more time to “important things in life like charities, culture and sport”.
Mr Carstairs said: “Bob Collier has led the chamber through an extraordinary period of achievement.
“We are proud of our successes over the past few years, including the Chamber of the Year title we won in 2014, and this is in a large part down to his leadership and the performance of the team at the chamber.
“The knowledge, expertise and high public profile he displays in the north-east business community means it is a big pair of shoes to fill.”
Douglas Craig, chairman of the Craig Group and AGCC board member, said: “Bob has successfully steered Aberdeen Chamber through challenging political and commercial times ensuring we fly the flag of service and quality while winning awards on the way.
“We wish him well in his retirement.”
Mr Collier said that one thing he’s not going to miss about the role is “getting up early” for the chamber’s regular series of breakfast events, but added: “I’ll miss the events themselves because unfailingly I learn something new from every single one of them.”
Mr Collier will continue to work with the chamber until a new chief is in post.
He said: “After a good run as the chief executive of the best Chamber of Commerce in the UK, I think it is the right time for the organisation to recruit fresh thinking to keep delivering for members of the chamber.
“My own plans are to pursue a range of interests rather than seek another full time executive role, meantime my focus will be on helping the board to find the best candidate for the job to ensure a seamless transition.”
The chamber board has appointed a recruitment panel chaired by Mr Carstairs to find a successor, with executive search company FWB Park Brown appointed to support the search.
Mr Collier has served as chief executive since April 2009.