Former newspaper editor steps down as Business West director

A former newspaper editor-turned-business advisor has stepped down from his role today.

Ian Mean has spent the last five years working for South West chamber of commerce Business West as a director in Gloucestershire.

The 78-year-old will keep volunteering as chair of the Gloucestershire organ donation committee and as regional chair for South Central division of NHSBT organ donation committees.

He will also remain on the county council's Economic Growth Board and also as a director of the Forest Economic Partnership - a community dedicated to creating a thriving economy in the Forest of Dean district.

Mr Mean, who was awarded an MBE for services to the community in Gloucestershire in 2022, is the former vice chair of Gloucestershire Local Enterprise Partnership (GFirst LEP). He became an advocate for business after bowing out of the newspaper industry a decade ago.

His career began as a trainee reporter on the South London Observer before moving to Sheffield to write for the Morning Telegraph as a crime reporter. He later spent stints at the Daily Mail, Daily Express, Birmingham Mail and the Daily Mirror.

On returning to the West Country, he spent 10 years editing the Gloucestershire Citizen - between 2002 and 2012 - and was Western Daily Press editor between 2014 and 2015.

Along with his business commitments, Mr Mean is honorary vice president of Gloucestershire College, president of Churchdown male voice choir and a freeman of the city of Gloucester.

He said: "I love what I do, I love working with people and I'll always support the heartbeat of business in Gloucestershire. It's exciting times here in Gloucestershire."

Phil Smith, managing director of Business West, added: "I thank Ian for his phenomenal contribution, commitment, drive, energy and dedication to Business West, the wider business community, and Gloucestershire as a whole.

"Gloucestershire remains a core focus for Business West and we will maintain the local place-based engagement and representation, including supporting key local projects such as Small Modular Reactors at Berkeley and Oldbury."