A BUSINESS leader has been appointed as Her Majesty’s new Lord Lieutenant for North Yorkshire.

The chair of the York, North Yorkshire and East Riding Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), Barry Dodd, will take up the post in September.

The current Lord Lieutenant, Lord Crathorne, from Crathorne Hall near Stokesley, will be retiring from the role on September 12.

As Lord Lieutenant, Mr Dodd will be the Queen’s representative in North Yorkshire with responsibilities that include the presentation of decorations, responsibility for the organisation of official royal visits and attending business and social events.

In addition to being chair of the LEP, the businessman is also chairman of the Global Service and Manufacturing Group (GSM Group) and its subsidiary companies and Pro Chancellor and chair of council at the University of Hull.

He also volunteers his time to a number of causes dedicated to developing Yorkshire’s economic future. It is in this capacity that his appointment has been made.

"It is a huge honour to be appointed as Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant for North Yorkshire, the most wonderful county in England,” he said.

"This is not a role anybody can apply for so the initial invitation letter from the Prime Minister came as a complete surprise."

This honour follows on from the OBE he was awarded in 2006 for services to business and the economy, the CBE he was awarded in 2014 for services to the UK economy, and his subsequent appointment as Deputy Lieutenant.