Legal practice director Jane Bishop is the new chair of the Bath and Wiltshire branch of the Institute of Directors (IoD).
An existing committee member, Jane, pictured, joined law firm Bonallack and Bishop’s Salisbury office in 2003 in after 13 years in senior management in the health service, latterly as directorate manager for surgery and cancer care at Salisbury District Hospital. 
Until recently she was group leader of business growth specialists Vector Partners and is a former governor of Salisbury College.
Jane will head a team providing a support network and services for more than 500 members in the Bath and Wiltshire area.
She said: “I am fascinated by the workings of businesses. The pressures you face, the skillset you need and the risks you take are incredible.
“One of the biggest challenges and opportunities I have as chair is the rich diversity of the Bath and Wiltshire region in terms of both geography and business sectors.
“What I aim to do is to recognise the different opportunities and pressures faced – including by the military. I want to build on the existing business and political network, actively recruiting new IoD members and developing events and activities that develop directors and showcases what this area has to offer.
“I want our directors to mentor our young entrepreneurs and to give opportunities to our children to gain work experience and give them the chance to become the future generation of directors. I want the branch to be attractive to a younger and more diverse demographic but ensure that it retains the wealth of experience that no book will ever teach you.”
Jane succeeds Phil Richardson, managing director of ThoughtCrew, who steps down after a three-year tenure.
