Black Country Chamber of Commerce has announced Ninder Johal as its new President, succeeding Paul Bennett.

As President, Mr Johal will be responsible for representing business in the Black Country.

Mr Johal, who was born and raised in Sandwell, has served as the Vice President of Black Country Chamber for the last year and prior to this, served as President of Sandwell Chamber for almost two years.

Before his role as President, Mr Johal spent several years on the Sandwell Chamber Board before being elected as Sandwell Chamber Vice President in 2010. He is well known in the local business community and besides his position within the Chamber; he is also chair of the Black Country Asian Business Association as well as a Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) board member.

Mr Johal is the Managing Director of Nachural Records and Nachural Corporate Communications which offers staging, lighting, video production and sound for events.

Mr Johal said: “I am looking to build upon the excellent work undertaken by my predecessor Paul Bennett. The need for all in the Black Country to work together for a common purpose, to reduce the productivity gap, to increase the skills base and to pursue an overriding strategy of wealth creation is paramount. To do this the need for collaboration is key as is the need to inculcate a vision of innovation and the need to be ambitious.

“Finally, I will champion the role of business at all levels to ensure that its role is rightly recognised in its contribution to society.”