UK professional membership body the Institute of Export and International Trade (IOE&IT) has appointed Marco Forgione as its new director general.

He replaces Lesley Batchelor who has been the IOE&IT’s director general since 2007 and who is leaving the Institute to launch a new venture called Export Boot Camps, aimed at helping business owners and senior managers find the right market.

Forgione is currently the director general of the British Antique Dealers’ Association (BADA), and will take up his new post in January 2020.

Prior to his role at BADA, Forgione served as a government advisor, held senior positions in the education and communications sector, and has led numerous trade missions to overseas trading partners including to China, the UAE, Qatar and India.

“With a strong track record in successfully leading membership organisations, working with members and engaging with government and other stakeholders, Marco will bring energy, expertise and renewed leadership to the Institute as we enter a new era of considerable growth and opportunity,” the IOE&IT says in a release.

Terry Scuoler, chairman of the IOE&IT, says: “It will be a great pleasure to welcome Marco to the Institute and to work with him to deliver our future strategy, continually improve our service offering to members and to be ever more effective in helping companies to access export markets and trade more effectively.”