London Chamber of Commerce names next chief executive

The London Chamber of Commerce and Industry has announced that its next chief executive will be career diplomat and former head of the Scotch Whisky Association, David Frost.

Aged 54, Frost’s previous jobs include being British ambassador to Denmark, director for Europe, trade and international affairs at the department for business, innovation and skills, and a number of senior posts with the Foreign Office, including director for the EU and, later, advisor to former London Mayor Boris Johnson when he was Foreign Secretary. His work as a diplomat has also seen him based in New York, Brussels and Nicosia.

Frost, who is a qualified tax adviser having spend two years with professional services giant KPMG, is credited with modernising the Scotch whisky industry’s approach to competing in overseas markets before taking up his role assisting Johnson in November 2016.

“Having spent so much of my diplomatic career on economic, business, and trade issues, I very much look forward to engaging and working with the Chamber’s members and other stakeholders at this vital moment for London’s businesses and the London economy,” Frost said.

Frost met staff at the Chamber’s office in Queen Street today, and will formally take up his post on 1 April. He will succeed Colin Stanbridge, who has been the organisation’s CEO for the past 16 years. The Chamber, which is the oldest business membership organisation in the capital, has around 2,000 members from across the capital, including large, small and medium-sized companies.