The son of two refugees who fled Nazi Germany has been appointed the new Lord-Lieutenant of Hertfordshire by Her Majesty the Queen.

Robert Voss CBE succeeded the Countess of Verulam Dione Grimston, who stepped down at the end of July.

Mr Voss, who lives in Loudwater, Bucks, with his wife Celia, said: “I am incredibly honoured to have been appointed Lord-Lieutenant of Hertfordshire by Her Majesty the Queen.

“We owe a huge debt of gratitude to The Countess of Verulam, who has worked tirelessly over the last decade and served the county and Her Majesty with great integrity and total commitment.

“I am especially proud and humbled as the son of two refugees who escaped Nazi Germany in 1939 who – within 12 months of being given refuge – enlisted into the British Army and fought for the country they proudly called home for the rest of their lives.

“It is the greatest honour to be able to serve the country that literally gave me life.

“I will devote my time and energy to serving the great county of Hertfordshire – a vibrant, dynamic and diverse county – and its people to the best of my ability and with pride.”

Mr Voss recently retired after a long and distinguished career in the metal industry, having also chaired the European Federation in Brussels for 16 years.

Mr Voss has a special interest in young entrepreneurs through his involvement with Hertfordshire Young Enterprise, as a venture partner investing in a number of young companies, and as a trustee of the Young Person of the Year charity.

He is also a governor of the University of Hertfordshire and a member of the UK Holocaust Memorial Foundation survivors’ testimony committee.