KPMG partner Ian Greaves has joined the board of Birmingham Press Club.

Mr Greaves, a well-known figure in the Birmingham business community, has become a director of the oldest club of its kind in the world to add some business acumen and flair to the organisation.

In his 26 years at KPMG, Mr Greaves has specialised in auditing and advising entrepreneurial and fast-growing businesses across the region.

He has spent time on secondment, including a period at the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, where he helped develop a number of initiatives with the objective of increasing revenues for all functions within the organisation.

He said: "The Birmingham Press Club is a well-established organisation within the city and I look forward to working with the existing board members in helping take this onto the next stage.

"With pressure on corporate expenditure, the Press Club now needs to further innovate to ensure commercial opportunities for organisations across the region are attractive, competitive and most of all add value."

Press Club chairman John Lamb said: "The Press Club is now on a sound financial footing, thanks largely to sponsorship over the past five years from Royal Mail, which has now ended.

"The Press Club is in advanced negotiations with several potential successors as overall sponsors as well as supporters of individual events.

"However, it is important that the club does not repeat its mistakes of the past and Ian’s appointment, along with that of Neil Wilson as financial director, is part of ensuring that the club moves forward financially.

"It is also important that the club fulfils its huge potential as an important institution in the city and across the Midlands.

"With that in mind, we shall shortly be announcing more new board members to cover specialist areas like social media and events.

"The club’s appeal to the media industry is underlined by the quantity and quality of the entries it receives for its Midlands Press Awards, which this year take place on 10 March at Edgbaston, the home of Warwickshire County Cricket Club."