The Dublin Chamber of Commerce has become the latest organisation to lose one of its senior staff to a dot.com company following the resignation of its chief executive, Mr Jim Miley, which was announced yesterday.

Mr Miley, a former general secretary of Fine Gael was appointed chief executive of the Dublin Chamber in January 1999 and achieved notable successes in developing the commercial activities of the organisation.

He was at the forefront of a campaign to provide e-commerce services to the chamber's 2,000 members and worked to generate a greater awareness of the potential of technology among the business community, according to the Chamber.

In a short statement yesterday issued by the Dublin Chamber of Commerce it was announced that Mr Miley was leaving to head up a new Internet-based business venture.

Details of the Internet venture were not released but Mr David Manley, president of the chamber, said the new company would be a reflection of his "entrepreneurship".

Mr Miley said he had enjoyed immensely the challenge of leading Dublin Chamber through a process of change at a time of unprecedented development in the business life of the city.