Liverpool City Council’s director of culture, Claire McColgan CBE, has been appointed to Visit Isle of Man’s non-executive board.

A statement announcing the appointment to the government's tourism agency said: ‘Claire is director of culture and major events at Liverpool City Council and is responsible for Culture Liverpool, Marketing Liverpool, Business Liverpool, City Halls, Cruise, Film Office and Tourist Information. She recently helped deliver an unparalleled Eurovision on behalf of Ukraine.

‘Additionally, Claire is a national and international advisor and speaker on best practice in culture, acting for Arts Council England and Ireland, the British Council, Local Government Association and represented the UK in Thailand, Brazil and China.

‘Claire was a director on the board of Derry/Londonderry for the inaugural City of Culture program and was chosen by Karen Bradley, then Secretary of State, as the UK expert for the 2022 European Capital of Culture competition.

Ranald Caldwell, non-executive chairman of Visit Isle of Man, added: ‘We are delighted to welcome Claire to the board.

‘It is so important for us to maximise our potential as a thriving visitor destination, and working alongside somebody with Claire’s vast experience will assist us in doing just that.

‘The Isle of Man has a quality offering and by building on our culture and destination marketing we can showcase it effectively, increasing our ever-growing visitor economy. What’s more, the Isle of Man’s ties to Liverpool will only expand with the increasing transport links, so working closely with the city is a priority for Visit Isle of Man.’