The British Chamber of Commerce in Lithuania (BCCL) has elected a new seven-member Board, which will operate under an updated competency and accountability model over the next two years. Entrepreneur and marketing strategist Neringa Petrauskaitė has been re-elected as Chair for a second term. The Board will work alongside the Chamber’s new Executive Director, Nora Bendžius-Drennan, who took up the role at the end of September.

The new leadership team will seek to strengthen business ties between Lithuania and the United Kingdom, expand the Chamber’s activities across the Baltic states and enhance its role in the international business community.

A new approach to association governance

At the elections held on 8 October, for the first time in the Chamber’s history, Board candidates were invited to stand for specific areas of strategic responsibility aligned with their professional expertise, experience and ability to contribute to the organisation’s objectives.

Under the new model, Board members will not only make strategic decisions collectively but also actively contribute to developing specific areas of the Chamber’s work, drawing on their professional experience, networks and expertise.

“One of the objectives I set myself when I was appointed Chair midway through the previous term was to lay the foundations for inclusive and progressive governance. This led to the development of a Board competency model similar to those used in business organisations. Its implementation calls for greater involvement from Board members and more clearly defined responsibilities. I am delighted that the Board supported this vision and recognised the model’s potential to support the Chamber’s continued growth. We therefore formed the new Board on precisely this basis: all candidates consciously chose specific areas of responsibility and committed to actively developing them. This represents a significant change in our Chamber’s governance practices and, I believe, an example for other business associations to follow,” says N. Petrauskaitė.

The updated competency model forms part of wider changes to the Chamber’s governance. Following amendments to its Articles of Association, the number of Board members has increased from five to seven, while the term of office has been reduced from four years to two. These changes are intended to make the organisation more agile, establish clearer accountability for results and encourage stronger Board engagement.

“The new Board’s strength lies in continuity: three members of the previous Board have been re-elected, and former Executive Director Dovilė Vyčinė has returned. Equally important is the greater potential for international cooperation – the Board now brings together representatives of four nationalities with extensive international experience,” says Chair N. Petrauskaitė.

Joining the BCCL Board for the first time are Domenico Scaffidi, founder and CEO of UK-based DS Payments Ltd and a member of the Bank of England Standards Advisory Panel; Dean Moore, Head of The British School of Vilnius; and Michal Wronka, President of AstraZeneca for the Baltic countries. Continuing their service on the Board are Neringa Petrauskaitė, Partner at We Are Marketing; Mariano Andrade Gonzalez, former Head of the Lithuanian Global Business Services Centre of UK technology company Johnson Matthey; and Olga Petroševičienė, Partner and attorney-at-law at Ellex Valiunas.

Dovilė Vyčinė also returns to the Board, having led the Chamber over the past year and contributed significantly to its recent growth and stronger member community. Since October, she has continued her career as head of a Profitus Group company in Spain.

Dovilė Vyčinė and Dean Moore will focus on membership growth and engagement; Neringa Petrauskaitė will support UK business growth in Lithuania; Mariano Andrade Gonzalez will support Lithuanian business growth in the UK; and Michal Wronka will oversee public affairs and strategic partnerships. Domenico Scaffidi will provide strategic guidance and Board-level oversight of the FinTech Working Group, while Olga Petroševičienė will provide strategic mentorship to the Defence Working Group.

New Executive Director brings experience of business in Lithuania and the United Kingdom

“These changes, which will help move the Chamber forward, are taking place at the same time: Nora Bendžius-Drennan has taken up the position of Executive Director, bringing a strong understanding of business culture in both Lithuania and the United Kingdom,” says N. Petrauskaitė.

Before joining BCCL, N. Bendžius-Drennan worked at Invest Lithuania, advising founders and senior executives of international companies on investment in Lithuania, and later led the business and digital services sector. She spent more than a decade in the United Kingdom, studying international relations at the University of Exeter, a member of the prestigious Russell Group, and obtaining a master’s degree from the University of London. In London, she developed international partnerships and, before returning to Lithuania, worked at the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women, which supports women entrepreneurs.

New initiatives and broader international cooperation in recent years

The election of the new Board marks another stage in the Chamber’s growth. In recent years, BCCL has significantly renewed its activities, strengthened its business community and broadened its range of strategic initiatives. The Chamber currently has nearly 50 members.

One of the most significant recent developments has been the launch of two strategic working groups focused on financial technology (FinTech) and defence. They aim to bring together businesses in these sectors, foster joint initiatives, strengthen dialogue with the public sector and create new opportunities for cooperation between Lithuanian and UK companies.

The Chamber has also introduced a new Overseas Membership category for UK and other international companies that do not yet operate in Lithuania but are exploring the market and considering investment or expansion opportunities. The initiative seeks to engage potential investors at an early stage of their interest in Lithuania and help them navigate the local business ecosystem.

Cooperation with other Lithuanian and international business associations has also expanded. Newly established relationships have already led to several meaningful partnerships and joint initiatives, strengthening dialogue between business communities and opening up further opportunities for members.

Joint projects have also begun to take shape with British Chambers of Commerce operating in other Baltic countries. This reflects the organisation’s wider strategic ambition to look beyond Lithuania, become more actively involved in regional initiatives and strengthen links between the Baltic states, as a shared business and investment region, and the United Kingdom.

“The past few years have been an intensive and meaningful period. Together with our community, we have strengthened the Chamber, expanded partnerships and created new opportunities for cooperation. I believe a strong business community is built through people, trust and tangible action. As I begin a new professional chapter, I see even more opportunities to connect markets, people and business initiatives. I hope to use my international experience, networks and business development expertise to help forge even stronger ties between Lithuania, the United Kingdom and the wider region. I am therefore delighted to return to the BCCL Board and continue contributing to the organisation’s growth in a different capacity,” says Dovilė Vyčinė.

An ambition to become an even stronger bridge between Lithuanian and UK businesses

The new leadership team will focus on supporting business growth in both directions between Lithuania and the United Kingdom, expanding and engaging the Chamber’s membership, strengthening cooperation with the public sector, building strategic partnerships and developing the working groups in the priority sectors of FinTech and defence.

Particular emphasis will be placed on delivering tangible value to members: opening up new business opportunities, facilitating meaningful connections, promoting international cooperation and strengthening the business community’s voice in decision-making.

“I believe we now have one of the strongest and most diverse Boards in BCCL’s history. It brings together people of different nationalities, business sectors, professional backgrounds and international experience. This diversity – spanning business development and international relations, FinTech, defence, law and strategic partnerships – is a tremendous strength. I am confident that this team can take the organisation into its next phase of growth, strengthen its role in Lithuanian–UK business relations and create even greater value for our members,” says N. Petrauskaitė.

Although each Board member will have a clearly defined individual area of responsibility, the Board will work as one team towards the Chamber’s shared strategic objectives.

“I am delighted to join BCCL at such an important time for the Chamber. I thank the Board for its trust. Together, we are ready to set our ambitions even higher.

Lithuania and the United Kingdom enjoy mature and close relations, providing a strong foundation for even closer business cooperation. Having lived and worked in the UK for more than a decade and subsequently advised international companies on investing in Lithuania, I see the opportunities available in both directions, particularly in areas such as FinTech. My ambition is for BCCL to become the leading platform helping Lithuanian companies grow in the UK and British businesses discover Lithuania. This is an ambitious goal, and I take on this role with a strong sense of responsibility and motivation,” says N. Bendžius-Drennan.