A director at leisure operator Sheffield International Venues (SIV) has taken on one of the top roles at the Institute of Sport and Recreation Management (ISRM).

Lorenzo Clark has been elected to the post of ISRM Yorkshire and Humber chairman for the next two years, taking over from Chris Spargo.

Lorenzo, 43, director of operations director for SIV, steps up from his previous position as vice chair of the ISRM Yorkshire and Humber.

The ISRM is the only national professional body for those involved exclusively in providing, managing, operating and developing sport and recreation services in the UK.

Lorenzo, who lives in Leeds, said: "It is an honour to be elected to this prestigious position, but particularly at such an important time for sport as the country prepares to stage the 2012 Olympics.

"Over the next two years, we will be looking to align our regional objectives to that of the ISRM's national strategy. Our work will focus on helping to drive forward the development of the organisation, growing membership and achieving full professional chartered status to put leisure management on the same level as accountancy or engineering."

Lorenzo, originally from North Wales, joined the company in 2005 as general manager of EIS Sheffield, before being promoted to director of operations two years ago.

He has more than 20 years of industry experience having previously managed Hambleton Leisure Centre, in North Allerton, and a number of centres for Leeds City Council including the South Leeds Stadium.

Lorenzo added: "Yorkshire and Humber is a very strong region, with a wealth of talented professionals and outstanding sport and leisure facilities. In Sheffield alone, SIV's portfolio of international and community sports venues is one of the biggest and best in Europe.

"We need to maximise this unique portfolio by using it to actively engage and influence key partners and stakeholders to promote the benefits of sport, recreation and physical activity and collectively improve standards of professionalism in the management of sport and recreation.

"It is also about diversification and changing perceptions of the ISRM to attract new members through the provision of the highest quality industry training, support and continuous professional development."