Turkish delight as Kirk becomes Chamber’s new President for 2024

Pictured during the AGM are the new Chamber President, Kirk Akdemir (second right), Vice President Irene Keal, the Lord Mayor and Lt Col Hugo McCullough, who gave a talk about the benefits to businesses of the Army Reserves.

THE Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce appointed Turkish businessman Kirk Akdemir as its new President during its recent AGM.

Kirk’s Vice President for the year is Irene Keal, who also chairs the Chamber’s North East Lincolnshire Area Council.

As he received his Chain of Office, Kirk paid tribute to Albert Weatherill, the outgoing President, who he described as a role model who had been a diplomatic, tactful and capable leader who he hoped would continue to be so for the next year, too.

Guests at the AGM Lunch included the Lord Mayor of Hull, Kalvin Neal, who heard Kirk explain how he felt grateful and humbled to become President of the Chamber of Commerce, which, he said, comes with a great deal of responsibility.

In his speech, he told guests he was born in Turkey and only came to the UK for six months as he wanted to learn the Queen’s English before going to the US to study at university there – but his plans changed when he met a blue-eyed blonde and he never made it to America.

He started working as an interpreter, and in 1992 AaGlobal was born. It quickly grew to cover 500 languages and dialects all over the world and in 2011 he decided to open a branch “up north” to serve his northern clients, and he chose to come to Hull.

Kirk told his audience: “I joined the Hull & Humber Chamber in 2011 and started supporting the Chamber’s International Trade Department, quickly becoming a Patron, which has been excellent for us, running foreign trade missions overseas.

“I now describe myself as a Turkish British Hullensian, who believes that Chamber membership brings invaluable benefits to businesses big and small and plays a vital role in shaping the area.

“The Chamber is the indisputable voice of the business community and is influential in everything that is happening in the region and it needs to be stronger than ever before.

“There are many business representatives here today, but it is easy to miss the big picture. Hull and Humber is the gateway to Europe and beyond and in my year as Chamber President I aspire to boost international trade and encourage Chamber members to consider the potential of broadening their horizons.”

The Lord Mayor gave a vote of thanks to Kirk and the Chamber, and proposed a toast to the Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce, before closing the proceedings.