The announcement comes at a pivotal point in Hornbeam Park-based YABA’s development.

It follows the recent signing of a new contract with Yorkshire Forward, which is enabling the association to significantly expand its activities, attract more private investors and provide greater opportunities for companies in the region seeking finance.

Burton has had a long association with the business angel community, spending seven years as secretary of YABA until 2004.

That same year, he and three partners set up the Viking Fund, established to provide funding opportunities for high growth technology companies, along with the Viking Club, comprising private investors with a particular interest in technology, many of whom are also YABA members.

Burton is keen to embrace his new role with YABA and believes one of the key challenges for the organisation now is to encourage greater reinvestment into companies in the region.

He says: “The next five years are going to be crucial for many growing businesses, and even in the current economic climate, there are certainly substantial opportunities for growth.

“And within Yorkshire there is no shortage of businesses looking for investment to grow. We want to continue the tradition of encouraging Yorkshire entrepreneurship and to do this we need to ensure we have a larger network of private investors.

“Through the recent appointment of three Ambassadors to promote YABA to potential new members, we’re looking to swell our business angel membership and to encourage more angel investment throughout all parts of the region.

“Over the next three years, YABA will help build a culture of business angel investing at more sub-regional levels, by supporting investor groups of YABA members.

YABA is also looking outside the region for potential angel members.

“Our ultimate aim is to increase inward investment and whilst we’re clearly keen that we have active local networks of angels, it’s also crucial that we’re open to angels from outside the region, or even outside the UK,” says Burton.

“I’m delighted to be taking on the role of chairman at this point – there are exciting times ahead.”