insideKENT Magazine Issue 35 - February 2015 | Page 14

NEWS

JONATHAN NEAME ANNOUNCED AS NEW CHAIRMAN OF VISIT KENT
Industry Council, which seeks to raise the profile of tourism industry issues
within government thinking.

Jonathan Neame has
been appointed
chairman elect of Visit
Kent.

Amanda Cottrell said: "I am delighted that Jonathan has agreed to become
chairman of Visit Kent. Over my seven years as chairman, we have seen
tourism in Kent exceed all of our targets and expectations. The strong and
effective partnership we have built has seen Visit Kent being nationally
recognised as one of the country’s leading destination management
organisations. This recognition should be shared by all of those who work
alongside us to make Kent a wonderful place to visit.

Jonathan, who is chief
executive of family
brewer, Shepherd
Neame, will succeed
Amanda Cottrell OBE
who has been chairman
of Visit Kent for seven
years. Jonathan will take
over from Amanda when
she stands down at the
end of 2015. Amanda
will become patron of
Visit Kent.

“This is an exciting platform for our new chairman to build on, and I know
that his expertise will ensure that Visit Kent goes from strength to strength.
“I am also too interested in tourism in Kent to disappear completely! So I
am delighted that the board has asked me to continue to serve as patron
of Visit Kent."
Jonathan said: "I am looking forward to taking on the role of chairman of
Visit Kent enormously. I believe that tourism is one of the key engines for
growth for Kent, and Visit Kent's track record is there for all to see.

Jonathan is a founder
investor of Visit Kent and
a major influence in the
tourism sector in the
Shepherd Neame
county through
chief executive, Jonathan Neame
Shepherd Neame’s
brewing, pub, and hotel
business. He is also chair of the British Beer and Pub Association, and has
played a leading role in highlighting the vital contribution this sector makes
to our economy and communities.

“I am honoured to be following such an energetic and effective chairman
as Amanda Cottrell. Amanda's passion for the county and her many other
interests have added greatly to the success of Visit Kent, and she will be
a hard act to follow."
For more information about Kent, visit www.visitkent.co.uk.

Other roles include a non-executive director of St Austell Brewery in Cornwall,
a trustee of the Leeds Castle Foundation, and a member of the Tourism

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