RICHARD PARSONS, publisher and commercial manager of Kent Business, and well known across the county’s business community, has returned to a job in the City.

Mr Parsons, a former banker with ANC Bank, worked for many years in London and overseas, particularly in Australia, before joining the Kent Messenger Group five years ago.

Working closely with business editor Trevor Sturgess, he forged several key partnerships with outside businesses and organisations. One with the Bank of England led to the Governor Mervyn King giving two keynote speeches in the county in 2006.

Mr Parsons was closely involved in several special projects, including MegaGrowth 50, an annual publication of the county’s most profitable companies, and the Eurogazelle list of leading businesses in Kent, Northern France and Belgium.

He worked tirelessly to promote the publication at business events across Kent, and the Thames Gateway Forum in London.

Mr Parsons said: "I want Kent Business to move onwards and upwards."