Monday 11 February 2019

• UK's former top trade official and previous CEO of Scotch Whisky Association will renew LCCI focus on international trade. 
• Former Ambassador and career diplomat with 25 years’ experience of promoting Britain internationally. 

London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has announced that David Frost CMG will be the organisation’s next Chief Executive.

The LCCI appointment is Mr Frost's second leadership role of an internationally-focused business group, after a successful Whitehall career mainly focused on trade, economics and business, and European issues.

As Chief Executive of the Scotch Whisky Association over three years, he modernised the Scotch producers’ body to operate and compete globally, while navigating the industry through the waters of the Scottish independence and EU membership referendums.

A career diplomat, David served as the British Ambassador to Denmark from 2006 to 2008, and as the Foreign Office's Director for the EU and later for Strategy and Policy Planning. His final civil service role was as Director for Europe, Trade and International Affairs at the then Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), where he was the UK's member of the EU's top-level Trade Policy Committee. He also returned to the FCO for a time as Foreign Policy Adviser to the Foreign Secretary from November 2016 to July 2018.

Chief Executive-designate David Frost said:

“I am excited to be taking up this post. LCCI is a long-established business organisation with a proud track record of serving the capital’s firms at home and abroad. 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".

Chairman of LCCI Jeff Adams said:

“I am delighted that David is joining the Chamber. His wealth of experience, as a senior Whitehall official promoting Britain internationally and then in running a key trade body, will help to shape and equip LCCI to confidently face future challenges and maximise opportunities”.

Mr Frost will take-up his post at LCCI on 1 April 2019, succeeding Colin Stanbridge who will step down at the end of March after leading the Chamber for sixteen years.

In line with the rules on business appointments for former Crown Servants, the terms of Mr Frost's appointment have been agreed by the FCO and will be available on the gov.uk website.

ENDS

Media contacts
Steven Reilly-Hii
T: +44 (0)207 7203 1897
M: +44 (0)782 724 1528
E: sreilly-hii@londonchamber.co.uk

Sean McKee
T: +44 (0)207 7203 1882
M: +44 (0)788 425 2881
E: SMcKee@londonchamber.co.uk

NOTES TO EDITOR:

1. London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) is the capital’s most representative business organisation with members across all boroughs ranging in size from multi-national companies to SMEs and sole traders.
2. LCCI is a member of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) network of 53 Accredited Chambers of Commerce across the UK, representing thousands of businesses of all sizes and within all sectors.
3. Mr Frost was the Chief Executive of the Scotch Whisky Association from January 2014 to November 2016.

A trade, economics, and European specialist, David Frost CMG spent around 25 years within the UK Government including as:

• Foreign Policy adviser to the Foreign Secretary: November 2016 - July 2018
• Director for Europe, Trade and International Affairs at the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), 2010 - 2013
• Director for Strategy and Policy Planning at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) 2008 - 2010
• British Ambassador to Denmark 2006 - 2008
• Head then Director, EU-Internal, FCO, 2003 - 2006
• Economic and Financial Counsellor, British Embassy Paris, 2001 - 2003

Prior to that Mr Frost held various FCO roles, including postings as First Secretary Economic at the UK Missions to the EU and the UN. He also qualified as a tax advisor (ATT) during two years with KPMG.