Dover Harbour Board announces Chairman Roger Mountford to retire

Dover Harbour Board (DHB) announces that Roger Mountford, its current Chairman, is to retire from the Board on 31 December, upon completion of 12 years of service as a non-executive. The Secretary of State for Transport has appointed the present Deputy Chairman, George Jenkins, as his successor.

In what has been an unprecedented period of transformation, DHB's outgoing Chairman has been involved with and overseen a modernisation and commercialisation agenda that leaves DHB as an efficient and robust business with an exciting future.

Roger Mountford, Chairman of the Dover Harbour Board, said: "I am very proud of the high quality service that the Port of Dover, along with our ferry operators and cruise line customers, consistently provides to millions of passengers each year as well as supporting UK-European trade. Over the twelve years since I joined the Board, we have made great progress in improving efficiency and safety as well as pioneering port master planning in the UK and delivering major capital projects."

In a letter, the Ports Minister, Stephen Hammond MP, referred to Roger's twelve years of dedicated service and the "highly professional way" in which he led the Board. He wrote: "During your time at Dover you have been at the forefront of a period of substantial change, and I believe that the Port's continued resilience in the face of challenging economic conditions is down to the present management team's commitment to the Port and your vision and leadership on the Board have played a significant part in this."

During Roger's tenure, DHB has approved and invested significantly in its infrastructure. From 2001 to 2009, whilst a Board member and subsequently as Deputy Chairman, he saw investment in the Port's infrastructure reach £116 million. Subsequently, as Chairman, he approved a capital plan through to 2015, totalling around £85 million, and secured Government approval of the second ferry terminal (T2) scheme, which when the market requires it will be the biggest ever single investment in the Port.

Mr Mountford added: "The maximum period of 12 years that government guidance permits me to serve sadly brings my direct association with the Port to an end. I am proud to have worked with a management team and staff who have achieved so much. I hope to see the Port empowered to make the real and meaningful contribution to the Dover community that it has wished to do for so long, and for it to continue developing as a successful and growing business that utilises the great knowledge and skills of its people, in Dover and beyond. I wish my successor, George Jenkins, well."

Dr Bob Goldfield, Chief Executive, Port of Dover, said: "We now have the structure, the vision and the capability to take the business forward in Dover and more widely in a way unimaginable a few years ago. Roger has played an important part in achieving that by providing great support and guidance through some challenging times."