MAIDSTONE Chamber of Commerce has lost its second chief executive in less than a year and will not be appointing another one.

Sean Randell quit after his six-month contract was not renewed.

He took a salary cut to get the troubled chamber back on track after it was rocked by the shock disappearance of Bill Alder amid allegations of financial irregularities.

Mr Randell, previously a senior manager with Select, a recruitment firm, said the decision was mutual. He is taking up a new job as operations manager with NHS Professionals, a pilot agency set up in Chatham Maritime to tackle the NHS staffing crisis.

Chamber President Alan Reading will share the chief executive's job with other directors.

Mr Randell, 35, was widely credited with increasing chamber members and restoring confidence after a difficult period that saw the chamber go into the red.

He said it was the right business decision for him to go. He had reviewed the financial situation and the balance sheet was much healthier than when he took over.

"It's in a lot better shape than it was and will do better without my salary," he said.

Chamber President Alan Reading paid tribute to Mr Randell's contribution, saying he had produced a blueprint for the chamber's future.

"Both parties felt it was time for him to stop being chief executive and to go on to something else," Mr Reading said.

It was not a cost-cutting exercise but "a move that makes sense and coincidentally it will save us money."