International ‘Master Trainer for Business’ appointed as new Black Business Collective chair

The Black Business Collective, a subscriber network for Black business owners and professionals backed by the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, has appointed Chris Cummins as its new chair.

Chris (pictured), co-founder of Birmingham-based international training business OTD, takes on the role after serving on the Collective's committee for the past 12 months. He succeeds former chair Alex Cole, chief executive of Tin Ventures.

Uko Umotong, co-founder of UB Healthcare, has also been appointed vice chair, joining existing vice chair Justice Williams MBE.

An experienced senior leader and facilitator, Chris is a Society of NLP Licensed Master Trainer for Business. He spent 17 years working in the pharmaceutical sector with some of the world's largest organisations before co-founding OTD. He is also part of the team behind Baseline Mentoring, which aims to make professional growth more accessible.

Chris will chair the Black Business Collective's committee, which acts as a voice for the region's Black business community. The network provides a platform for business owners and professionals to connect and find opportunities, with almost 1,000 subscribers since its launch in 2024.

Chris said: "The Black Business Collective has created something really valuable over the last two years and I'm proud to be building on that as chair.

"I've always believed that everyone should have the opportunity to fulfil their potential, regardless of their background. That's something we've worked hard to create at OTD and it's something I'll continue to champion through the Collective.

“I'd love to see even more Black owned businesses building strong connections and gaining the support they need to progress, while inspiring the next generation to believe there's a place for them in business too."

Alicia Nelson, Chamber Lead for the Black Business Collective, added: "We are delighted to welcome Chris as chair of the Black Business Collective.

“Having served on the committee over the past year, he has already demonstrated a genuine commitment to supporting and championing our community.

“I am really excited to be working with Chris in this role. His enthusiasm and drive will bring so much to the BBC community as we continue to grow and create opportunities for Black business owners and professionals across the region.

"We are also incredibly grateful for the support OTD has provided as headline sponsor over the past year. Their decision to renew that commitment for another year is a strong endorsement of the work the Collective is doing and will help us continue delivering valuable opportunities, connections and support for our growing network."

Visit the Chamber website for more information or to join the Black Business Collective.