THE top man at Wychavon and Malvern councils has taken the helm of the Avon Navigation Trust charity.

Jack Hegarty, the managing director and chief executive of the two councils, has been appointed chairman of the charity's board of trustees.

And former general manager Clive Matthews has been promoted to the Chief Executive of the trust, based at Wyre Piddle, near Evesham.

Mr Matthews said: "We are delighted to welcome Jack on board. His wide-ranging experience in local government, partnership working, the Droitwich Canals project and the Canal and River Trust will be invaluable to us as we continue to evolve to ensure the Avon becomes even more of a magnet for boaters, local people and businesses.”

“We are immensely grateful to former chairman John Tomsett, after his three-and-a-half-year term in the lead role.

“John has done such a lot of powerful good for the trust, particularly for its professional image and public engagement.”

The trust has made a big splash in the last decade, making the Avon one of the most expertly managed and well-maintained rivers in the country.

Innovations include the unique webcam network River Watch, to inform and protect boaters, and numerous partnership projects.

“Through Clive’s leadership the trust has done a grand job building the Avon’s reputation. I am looking forward to working with Clive and helping the team move onwards and upwards,” said Mr Hegarty, who lives in Harvington, near Evesham.

As well as his day job , Mr Hegarty, who has 31 years of local government experience, also chairs a number of organisations, including the Worcestershire Safer Communities Board, South Worcestershire Community Safety Partnership, Malvern Hills Science Park and, until recently, the Canal and River Trust’s South Wales and Severn Waterways Partnership. But he couldn’t resist the chance to lead the Avon Navigation Trust too.

“I enjoy new challenges and these are exciting times for the trust,” he said. "There is a great potential to grow the Avon’s undoubted importance to our area, our local economy and the world of UK waterways.”