Devon Chamber of Commerce has announced a series of senior appointments as part of its refreshed direction under its new Chief Executive.
Helen Wylde-Archibald has just completed 30 days in post having undertaken a strategic review since joining Devon’s only British Chambers of Commerce accredited Chamber this autumn.
She said she has been “hugely encouraged” by the support shown by members, partners and the Chamber’s boards during her first month.
As the Chamber prepares to unveil its new strategy at the Future of Work event on 22 January 2026, a series of changes have been made to strengthen and align the organisation’s leadership team to support its ambition for businesses across the county.
Under the new structure:
- Richard Marsh becomes Chief Growth Officer and Executive Board Director for the Exeter Place Board. His county-wide remit will focus on supporting members, strengthening partnerships, and leading strategic bids for government funding.
- Clare Baker becomes Chief Operating Officer and Executive Board Director for the Plymouth Place Board, with responsibility for International Trade as the Chamber looks to expand its global trade offer in 2026.
- Ronnie Carter becomes Director of Programmes & Innovation, overseeing delivery of the Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) and a growing portfolio of Chamber-led programmes.
- Helen Hart returns on a part-time basis as Company Secretary, supporting governance across the Chamber Board and Place Boards alongside her existing work with the Plymouth Area Business Council.
New CEO Helen Archibald-Wylde said the strengthened structure will ensure the Chamber is well-positioned to deliver on its ambitions for 2026 and beyond.
She said: “Over the past 30 days I have been struck by the passion, resilience and commitment of Devon’s business community. As we prepare to launch our new strategy in January, it is absolutely the right moment to align our leadership team with the scale of our ambition for the county.
“These appointments will ensure we have the capacity, capability and local insight to support our members, strengthen partnerships, and secure new opportunities for businesses across Devon.
“This has been a challenging year for many organisations, but our focus remains firmly on our members and on shaping a strong, collaborative and future-ready business environment for Devon.
“I’d also like to thank Joanne Caine of Cathedral Appointments for her role in supporting the transition process on behalf of the Board. Cathedral are a Patron member of the Chamber and their support has been invaluable.”
The Chamber confirmed that no changes are currently being made to its Boards, with any future vacancies expected to be announced ahead of planned elections in April.
The new Chamber strategy, which will outline the organisation’s priorities around skills, digital innovation, international trade, place-based growth and business support, will be presented at the Future of Work event on 22 January 2026 at Newton Abbot Racecourse.
