Visit Devon Appoints New Chair of the Board

31st March 2021

Categories: Press Releases

The Board of Visit Devon are delighted to announce the appointment of their new Chair, Vince Flower.  He takes up his position on 1^st April 2021.

Vince takes over from Rhys Roberts, who has been the Chair of the Board since 2016.

Rhys, proprietor of the Best Western Tiverton Hotel, has been instrumental in Visit Devon’s development over the past five years, and his strong leadership has resulted in the company being recognised nationally and internationally as the Destination Marketing Organisation for Devon.
Rhys’s contribution to Visit Devon and the tourism sector was recently acknowledged at the Devon Tourism Awards where he received the Outstanding Contribution to Tourism Award for 2020. Rhys will remain on the Board as a Director of Visit Devon.

Vince Flower is an established and respected business leader who has significant operational and leadership skills, as well as a strong business network locally and nationally.  His background and experience will be key to helping Visit Devon move forward with its future plans. 

Former Managing Director of Shearings Hotels Ltd, Vince is now involved with many organisations in a voluntary capacity, at Chair or Director level. These roles include chairing the Torbay Economic Development Company, Young Devon, Torquay Academy and the Torquay Town Deal Board where he was helped secure funding c£22million for the Torquay Town Deal to drive economic regeneration in the town.

In December 2020, he was appointed to the Heart of the South West LEP Board as a non-executive director.

Outgoing Chair, Rhys Roberts, comments: “The past five years have been an incredible roller coaster ride with real progress coupled with the crushing disappointment of the closure of the industry in the region, however Visit Devon is well placed to play a key role in promoting tourism in the future. I have enjoyed my role immensely and look forward to working with Vince and the board on the next phase in the continued success of Visit Devon.”

Incoming Chair, Vince Flower, comments: “I am absolutely delighted to be joining the team at Visit Devon.

"I am looking forward to working and collaborating with everyone involved, helping grow and improve the quality and value of the Visitor Economy in our beautiful County. Helping our members and their businesses thrive and grow to the benefit of all, providing much needed employment and a sense of purpose, whilst playing an active part in helping to protect our precious environment. I am very excited to be joining the team at this time and look forward to playing my part in the future development of this very important and much needed organisation”.