New Chairman appointed to the Port of Dover

23 December 2009

The Secretary of Transport has announced that the new Chairman of Dover Harbour Board is Roger Mountford, the present Deputy Chairman. The appointment follows the retirement of the present Chairman, Robert Dibble, after 9 years in that post.

Roger Mountford has been a member of the Dover Harbour Board since 2001, serving as a trustee of the Pension Scheme, chairman of the Audit Committee and Deputy Chairman. He was previously a merchant banker in London and Hong Kong, with extensive experience of financing the shipping industry and financial restructuring; he led Hambros Bank’s advisory practice in the transport sector, advising clients in the ports, airports, rail and shipping industries. In addition to serving on the Dover Harbour Board he is a board member of the Civil Aviation Authority.

Roger is also chairman of The Housing Finance Corporation, which provides long term funding to housing associations; earlier in December, at the British-Irish Council of Housing Ministers meeting he signed an agreement with the European Investment Bank that will provide £345million in long term finance for regeneration projects across the United Kingdom. He is also a Governor of the London School of Economics and chairman of HgCapital Trust plc.

Asked about his appointment Mr Mountford commented: “The Port of Dover is a unique national and local asset. Together, its staff and customers provide standards of service of which we can be justly proud. It also plays a vital role in the economy of Dover and the South-East, and is a driver of Dover’s own regeneration. The Port has grown and developed under the leadership of Robert Dibble as chairman, and Bob Goldfield and his team, and I am honoured to have the opportunity to lead the Dover Harbour Board as the next decade opens. The Port must continue to grow and prosper, in the interests of the wider community, its customers and its people, while fully respecting the legitimate expectations of all stakeholders.”

Speaking of the appointment, Bob Goldfield, Chief Executive, said: “Roger has been a valuable member of the Board for many years and the experience and continuity that he brings to our future strategy is of considerable benefit to the Port and to its stakeholders as we move forward in what are challenging and changing times”.