A former career diplomat, Pearson will take up the position with CCI WA from March 25.

CCI president Dr Penny Flett said Pearson would bring a wealth of practical, front-line experience and a strong policy perspective to the role.

"He is a Western Australian, aged 48, who comes to CCI with substantial credentials and local, national and international experience – including extensive service overseas as a policy representative and trade negotiator with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade," she said.

"James will take up the position in a critical period, with a new Federal Government in office actioning a change agenda, while at the state level the Government is in the last year of its term with all parties positioning themselves for an election."

Pearson is a University of Western Australia science honours graduate and has an MBA from Deakin University.

Before joining Chevron in 2002, he was the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association’s WA/NT director. Pearson had previously worked for the WA Department of Resources Development as policy director.