Mark Taylor, the co-founder of business advisory firm Element45 and former Birmingham managing partner of RSM UK, takes up the role leading the board of trustees and supporting chief executive Mike Chamberlain into the next decade of Sport Birmingham’s growth and development.

Sport Birmingham works with local, regional, and national partners to maximise the positive impact that physical activity and sport can make to people and communities.

The organisation is committed to tackling inequality, promoting diversity and improving opportunity by addressing the barriers to being physically active - prioritising those most inactive audiences and places with the greatest social need and lowest activity levels.

Mark, who co-founded Element45 earlier this year, has more than 23 years’ experience of working in the accounting and business advisory sector.

He spent 20 of those years at RSM UK and was managing partner of the Birmingham office from 2016 to 2023.

Mark recently stood down as an elected member of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce’s Chamber Council after six years of service.

Mike Chamberlain, Sport Birmingham’s chief executive, said: “Mark has both the passion and the proven leadership skills to make a big difference, and he has already proven himself as a committed board member.

“His connectivity and credibility in Birmingham is significant and I’m very much looking forward to the next chapter with Mark at the helm.”

Mark added: “I am very proud and honoured to have been chosen by a panel of my fellow trustees to become the new chair of Sport Birmingham.

“I very much look forward to working with the fabulous members of the SB team and the brilliant, diverse group of trustees we have, to take the organisation on to achieving new goals and benefiting many more lives.

“As a large proportion of our funding comes from Sport England, part of our income diversification plan is to broaden the portfolio of commercial partners we collaborate with.

“There are great opportunities for businesses to work with us to contribute to our hugely important mission and make a real impact in local communities.”

Sport Birmingham will be celebrating its 10-year anniversary at a new Community Celebration Awards event at Edgbaston on 21 November.