The Bermuda Chamber of Commerce has appointed Kendaree Burgess as its new executive director, the business organisation has announced.

Kristi Grayston, president of the Chamber, said: “We are pleased to confirm Kendaree to the post of executive director. Kendaree has the right mix of business experience and education to be an excellent leader for the Chamber and we look forward to working with her permanently.”

Ms Burgess, who holds an MBA from Webster University, is a founding member of The Centre For Leadership, is on the Development Committee of the Bermuda National Trust, the Marketing Committee of the Bermuda Sloop Foundation and has served in an advisory capacity to many of Bermuda’s leading businesses.

She has served as the Chamber’s interim executive director since February.

The executive director post has been vacant since the beginning of February when Joanne MacPhee was fired after yelling from a balcony at participants in a Bermuda Industrial Union march through Hamilton, protesting in the wake of a labour dispute with the Fairmont Hamilton Princess. It is understood that she said that the protesters should go to work, and were lucky to have jobs.