Brigid Simmonds OBE - chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) - has been appointed to succeed Ken Robinson as Tourism Alliance chair.

Speaking at the organisation's AGM on 13 July, tourism minister John Penrose welcomed the appointment of Simmonds - a former chief executive of Business in Sport and Leisure. Penrose said: "Next year is very important one for the tourism industry with the implementation of the government's new Tourism Policy, the work of the Regulation Taskforce and the major tourism events of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and the 2012 Olympics.

"With Brigid's appointment as the new chair, the Tourism Alliance is well placed to help deliver these initiatives for the tourism industry." Simmonds added: "The government has set some challenging targets for the growth of both the inbound and domestic tourism sectors over the next four years

"I'm committed to ensure that the Alliance maintains and builds on its important role as a conduit between the industry and Government to ensure these targets are met."