The chairman and vice chairman of the Hythe Chamber of Commerce and Tourism are to swap jobs.

Kevin Howell, chairman since April 2007, is to step down in order to devote more time to his business. He will become vice chairman, succeeding Joanna Ames, the current holder of the office, who will take over as head of the organisation at the meeting of its executive committee on January 19.

Mr Howell has run a wine and spirits business in Hythe for more than twenty years, now as an independent retailer but until last year as a franchisee of the Threshers chain.

Kevin Howell	Joanna Ames

He said that the collapse of the company had meant a considerable re-organisation of sources of supply for the Hythe business which he now owned.

"As these and other changes are not likely to be completed for some time, I have decided that it is in the interest of the chamber and its members that I hand over responsibility for overseeing the programme of development which, since the merger of the chamber of commerce and the Hythe Tourism Forum last year, has included the promotion of the town as a shopping and leisure destination" said Mr Howell this week

"It has been a great pleasure to have taken part in projects to achieve its enlarged objectives, notably the website and new map-guide launched last year, and the organisation of events to encourage Hythe residents to shop locally".

A regret of his term of office, Mr Howell added, was that he had not been able to convince more businesses that membership of the chamber and participation in its activities strengthened the organisation's abilities to contribute to the town's prosperity.

Joanna Ames was founder and managing director of Hythe-based international tour operator, En Route, which she sold to Buzzlines in 2006. Twice named Kent Businesswoman of the Year, she has been associated with local tourism for many years and now heads management services consultancy Arrivee, which she set up to assist companies involved in the coach tourism industry. Ms Ames is vice chairman of the Channel Chamber of Commerce.