The Campaign for Real Ale has announced its new chairman-elect as Nik Antona.

Antona will replace Jackie Parker following the group’s Members’ Weekend, AGM and Conference to be held in Dundee in April.

Antona has been a National Executive member since 2009, and currently chairs the Finance and General Purposes Committee. He was a CAMRA Regional Director for five years, representing the West Midlands.

He said: “I’m delighted and honoured by the confidence my National Executive colleagues have shown in me by electing me to take over as Chairman in April.

“Jackie has been a strong leader for the organisation and I’m keen to carry on where she will leave off - making sure CAMRA is effective in its national campaigns, especially in seeking much-needed reform of the Pubs Code, calling for a review of Business Rates on pubs and campaigning to get a reduction in beer tax on pints served in pubs.

Parker, who has held the role for the past year, said: “It’s with great sadness that I choose to step down as chairman of the Campaign. It’s the right time, however, as I come to the end of my third term as a National Executive member. I’ve spent nine years as a National Executive member and served as a Regional Director for three years prior to that. I believe it’s healthy for an organisation to refresh its leadership regularly and now is the time to step aside and give someone else the opportunity to lead the Campaign.”