East Lancashire Chamber appoints new membership director

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce has announced the appointment of Sarah Dean as membership director.

Sarah, who will start in her new role from 1 October 2026, joined the Chamber in 2020 and was most recently working as membership manager.

Prior to joining the Chamber, Sarah worked in business development, sales leadership and account management, holding senior roles with Global, UKRD Group and Marriott Hotels Group. 

Sarah's promotion will fill the vacancy left by Simon Brierley, who was confirmed as the Chamber's new chief executive last month.

Simon said: “Sarah has demonstrated exceptional commitment to the Chamber, our members and our values throughout her time with the organisation.

"She has consistently delivered results, built strong relationships across the business community and shown outstanding leadership qualities.

"I am confident she will play a crucial role in shaping the next phase of our evolution and helping more businesses across East Lancashire to grow and succeed.”

Sarah said: “Having spent the past six years working with so many fantastic businesses across East Lancashire, I have seen first hand the vital role the Chamber plays in supporting growth, collaboration and opportunity.

"I am excited to build on the strong foundations already in place, work alongside our talented team, and continue delivering outstanding value for our members. I look forward to supporting even more businesses to connect, develop and thrive in the years ahead.”

As membership director, Sarah will lead the Chamber’s membership strategy, oversee member engagement and retention activity and support the continued growth of the organisation.