Lord Digby Jones, formerly the Director General of the CBI and Minister of State for UK Trade and Investment, will be the guest speaker at an Isle of Man Chamber of Commerce gala dinner for members. The black-tie event on Friday June 26th at the Villa Marina is being held to celebrate Chamber’s 60th anniversary this year. Lord Jones is very well known in the public arena, especially for his candid, forthright attitude towards business and politics.

Michael Crowe, President of the Isle of Man Chamber of Commerce, said:

“As 2015 marks the 60th anniversary of Isle of Man Chamber of Commerce we have decided to celebrate the occasion with a gala dinner instead of holding our usual AGM luncheon. We’re delighted that Lord Jones has accepted our invitation and look forward to hearing his unique business and political insight. With such a distinguished and respected guest our gala dinner promises to be the highlight of this year’s social calendar for the Island’s business community, and we must thank our Chamber members Celton Manx, KPMG, PokerStars and Tynwald Mills whose sponsorship has made this event possible.”

The evening will also mark the end of Michael Crowe’s two year tenure as President. He will formally hand over to Micky Swindale from KPMG who will become the first woman to take up the role.

Lord Jones grew up in Alvechurch in north Worcestershire and returned to the Midlands after graduating from University College London. In 20 years at Birmingham-based law firm Edge & Ellison he worked his way up from Articled Clerk to become Senior Partner. It was there that he developed a vision of business and its role in society, and began to believe firmly in socially inclusive wealth creation. In 2000 he joined the CBI and was able to put some of these ideas into action during six and a half years as Director General. In 2005 he was knighted for his services to business and became Sir Digby Jones. Two years later he was appointed Minister of State for UK Trade and Investment and became a life peer taking the title, Digby, Lord Jones of Birmingham.
Now, in addition to his role as an active crossbencher in the House of Lords, he serves as Chairman of Triumph Motorcycles Limited, Non-Executive Deputy Chairman of the Unipart Expert Practices (UEP) and in several advisory roles for companies including JCB, BP plc, and Harvey Nash plc to name but a few of his extensive business commitments.

Over the years Lord Jones has brought his experience and expertise to help many charitable projects, and currently this includes being Corporate Ambassador for Cancer Research UK, a Diamond Ambassador for Mencap’s WorkRight initiative, and a Vice-President of Birmingham Hospice. In 1998, as Chairman of the Birmingham Hospice Appeal which raised ?1.5 million, he personally raised ?218,000 towards their target by cycling from John O’Groats to Land’s End in 14 days. He ran the 2005 London Marathon in under six hours raising ?191,000 for both Cancer Research UK and UNICEF. To relax, Lord Jones enjoys skiing, football, rugby and cricket and has more than a passing interest in military history. His fulfilment is complete when Leicester Tigers and Aston Villa win their matches.

You can read more about Lord Jones on his website http://www.digbylordjones.com/  

For more information about Isle of Man Chamber of Commerce go to www.iomchamber.org.im or call 674941.

Photo - Lord Digby Jones who will be guest of honour at the Isle of Man Chamber of Commerce gala dinner on June 26th at the Villa Marina.