A BUSINESSMAN involved with planning Sheffield's Supertram has been appointed as the new Lord Lieutenant's officer in South Yorkshire.
Mike Smith will take over from outgoing lieutenancy officer David Fisher, 65, on May 1 when he steps down after 20 years in the post.
The lieutenancy officer supports every activity of the Lord Lieutenant, who represents the Queen and other member
s of the Royal family in the county.
Mr Smith's responsibilities will include dealing with Royal visits to South Yorkshire and co-ordinating the nomination of guests for Buckingham Palace garden parties.
He lives in Wickersley, Rotherham, with his wife Michelle. They have two grown-up children. His career has been primarily in transport and he was involved with the planning of the Supertram system in the 1980s.
Previously president of Rotherham Chamber of Commerce and vice-chairman of the Training and Enterprise Council, Mr Smith now runs a consultancy business specialising in transport, management and organisational development.
He has been elected a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport and holds many other positions, including being a director of the Magna centre, vice-chairman of the Rotherham Town Team, chairman of the Renaissance PR group and chairman of the Thrybergh Education Action Zone.
Mr Smith said he was "delighted" to take up his new post. He added: "I know that I am building on the strong foundations left by my predecessor David Fisher and will be ably supported by Sharon Burrows, the lieutenancy co-ordinator.
"Working alongside the Lord Lieutenant, David Moody, I am eager to maximise the benefits that the lieutenancy can bring to the county and citizens, raising South Yorkshire's profile and helping to recognise individuals, companies and voluntary organisations that do so much to secure our economic and social well-being."
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