A LEWDOWN resident has been appointed as the new chairman of the Devon and Cornwall branch of the Institute of Directors. Richard Ayre, 61, said his main aim would be ?to nurture the vibrancy and buzz of small to medium sized businesses in the two counties?. Richard, who is married with one son, obtained his first degree at Exeter University and his MBA at Warwick Business School. He became on IOD chartered director in 2006. Self employed, he is a shareholder/director of a wine importing business and a business mentor to small and medium enterprises with growth ambitions.