Chamber appoints new Chief Economist

Dr John Ashcroft has been appointed as Chief Economist for Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce. Dr Ashcroft will maintain his role at pro.manchester where he is Chief Executive, but will work on a part time basis to fulfil the additional role at the Chamber.

Commenting on Dr Ashcroft’s appointment, Chamber Chief Executive Clive Memmott, said: “This sort of collaborative work between two key Greater Manchester bodies is, I believe, the blueprint for the future.

"John’s appointment as Chief Economist gives us an invaluable extra level of economic insight and commercial understanding that will add real value to our members. With his extensive experience, knowledge and connections, John will be an excellent ambassador for the important work we want to deliver in the coming months and years and will complement and enhance the existing talent we have within the Chamber.”

John Ashcroft said: "I am very much looking forward to working with Clive and his team. Joining the Chamber during what is a truly transformational time in its history represents the kind of challenge to which I’m really looking forward.

"The Chamber, with both an illustrious past and a bright, exciting future, was too good an opportunity to miss.

"At the Chamber, I want to help build an even more authoritative voice on economics for Greater Manchester, capitalising on the strengths of the Chamber’s QES and the Budget for Greater Manchester 2013.

"What I’m determined to ensure is that this insight is increasingly relevant and helpful to the Chamber’s membership."

The announcement of Dr Ashcroft’s appointment follows a number of key new appointments at the Chamber over recent months.

About Dr John Ashcroft:

• He is an economist and Chief Executive of pro.manchester, a Director of Marketing Manchester and a member of the (AGMA) Business Leadership Council. 
• He is the Senior Economics Advisor to Duff & Phelps and author of The Saturday Economist, a weekly round up of news on economics and events in the UK economy. The web site www.thesaturdayeconomist.com is considered to be one of the best social media integrated economics sites in the UK. 
• John is a visiting Professor at MMU Business School, specialising in Economics, Social Media, Corporate Strategy, Business and Financial Modeling and an occasional lecturer at Manchester and Salford Business Schools. 
• Educated at the London School of Economics, London Business School and with a PhD in Economics from Manchester Metropolitan University, John is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, a companion of the British Institute of Management and a member of the Society of Business Economists. 

• John has undertaken extensive media work with BBC and ITV, published the case study on Apple From the iPod to the iPad and has written extensively as a critic of Quantitative Easing.