The Institute of Directors has appointed a new Kent chairman.

RIFT Accounting managing director Jane Ollis will leave her role at the Ashford-based firm this week as she takes on the new position at the membership body, which supports people running businesses.

She takes over from Heart Kent managing director Emma Liddiard, who has led the organisation, known as the IoD, since 2013.

Its county branch is based at Kent Science Park in Sittingbourne, where it coordinates events and support for more than 1,500 members.

Mrs Ollis said: “I’m really excited. Following on from Emma will be tough considering all she has done to get the IoD known in Kent.

“She has made some wonderful collaborations and connections. My focus will be on innovation and enterprise.

“I want to keep our members engaged and help make Kent a great place to do business.”

Mrs Ollis is a former managing director of business support company BSK-CiC, which formerly organised the Kent 2020 Vision Live exhibition before it tumbled into administration last year.

The latest Kent Vision Live exhibition, as it is now known, takes place today at the Kent Showground, Detling, where thousands of business people are expected to attend.

Mrs Ollis joined RIFT in 2014, helping it to be named the third fastest-growing company in Kent in last year’s MegaGrowth 50 list.

She will remain as a non-executive director at the business.

She will get a new job in the summer at Quivium, an asthma treatment device developer based at Discovery Park in Sandwich.

She will be be leading the charge to take the firm’s product to market in the UK and overseas.

Mrs Ollis, who lives near Hawkhurst and has three children, said: “I have spent so many years in Kent helping businesses and this is a fantastic opportunity for me to carry on that.

“I loved my work with BSK because it helped businesses grow and the more entrepreneurs I can help, then the better for Kent.”