Business development specialist Rebecca Tregarthen takes over next month as the first woman to chair the Bristol branch of the Institute of Directors.
She will head a 10-strong team providing a support network and services for more than 600 members in the Bristol area.
A teacher by training, Rebecca, pictured, went on to spend more than 10 years helping companies in the construction and property sectors with marketing and business development before setting up her own consultancy Rejoove. 
She said: “The Bristol branch, under the guidance of recent former chairs Tom McCarthy and Nick Sturge, is now well established as the premier business networking and support service in the city and immediate surrounds.
“We have seen a growth of almost 15% in membership over the last three years, increased the diversity of our group and have established a number of initiatives designed to encourage future directors, such as the Student membership scheme in partnership with the University of the West of England.
“Much of our membership base is small to medium-sized business, but this does not mean all are run by young directors. We are seeing an increasing number of businesses, such as mine, which offer a smaller, more bespoke service to clients, often established in mid-career by business people who have perhaps taken redundancy or looking for a way to make their future more secure in recent difficult economic times. We are a very entrepreneurial membership in a competitive marketplace.
“The IoD brings people together to share knowledge, experience and support which is vital for growth. Backed by a really dynamic committee, my aim is to continue to provide effective platforms and events that nurture that ability to knowledge share and for our membership to support each other.”
Rebecca succeeds Tom McCarthy, of Odyssey Corporate Finance, who steps down after a three-year tenure. During that time, the IoD South West relocated its regional headquarters to the Bristol & Bath Science Park at Emerson’s Green and is now also offering members a second meeting hub at the Engine Shed at Temple Meads – the recently-opened innovation and business centre.
It has hosted a number of flagship business debates and represents small to medium-sized business on the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership.
