Retail Birmingham needs a new chairman with “fresh ideas and vitality” according to Alan Chatham, who is stepping down from the role after three years.

Mr Chatham said he had only ever planned to take the job for a year and he felt he had taken the organisation as far as he could.

He said new development projects would also take up much of his focus in the coming years and the job needed somebody who could commit more time than he could.

“I have put a huge amount of effort into chairing Retail Birmingham and I am extremely proud of what we have achieved but the time has come for a new face to inject some fresh ideas and vitality into the organisation,” he said.

“This is a very important time for Birmingham’s retail sector and Retail Birmingham is spearheading some very exciting plans and it needs is a dynamic figure to stand up and take on the role and lead the BID on to the next level.”

Jenny Inglis, city centre director and company secretary at Retail Birmingham, paid tribute to the work of Mr Chatham and said that they hoped to announce a replacement in the New Year. She said: “Alan raised the future of the chair role with us a number of months ago and whilst his vision and energy will be sadly missed on the board, we are hugely grateful for all the hard work he has put into the role since the retail BID was established in 2007.

“On behalf of the Retail Birmingham board I would like to thank Alan for his tremendous contribution and wish him all the very best with his future projects in Birmingham.

“Alan has championed a number of key projects over the last year, including the Retail Birmingham design strategy, building the Style Birmingham brand, tackling issues such as street waste and supporting our independent retailers.

“As we appoint a new chair in early 2011, the BID will continue to build on this success and enter a new phase of work, delivering our key objectives of driving trade, improving the visitor experience and creating an influential retail voice.

“Until then, it will be business as usual with the work of the BID being driven forward by the Retail Birmingham executive team and board champions.”