Membership of North East Business and Economy Board announced

North East Mayor Kim McGuinness and the North East Combined Authority have confirmed new members of its Business and Economy Board, as it builds stronger ties with business and steps up action to grow the region's economy. 

It follows the appointment earlier this year of John McCabe, Chief Executive of the North East Chamber of Commerce, as Chair of the Board. 

The Board met for the first time on Thursday, March 6, to discuss the Mayor's draft Local Growth Plan which was approved by the North East Combined Authority Cabinet on Tuesday, March 18. A consultation on the Local Growth Plan has started and businesses are urged are to take part. 

The new members of the Board are: 

• Matt Beeton, Chief Executive, Port of Tyne 

• Nagma Ebanks-Beni, Co-chief executive, Prima Cheese 

• Brenda McLeish, Chief Executive, Learning Curve Group 

• Sandra Manson, Executive Director, Pegasus Group and chair, Developing Consensus 

• Kirsty Wells, Chair, Merit 

• Andy Long, Vice Chancellor, Northumbria University 

• Jim Brewin, Chief Director, UK & Ireland, Hitachi Rail 

• Edward Twiddy, Director, environment, society and government, Atom Bank and chair, Northstar Ventures 

• Gill Hunter, Managing Partner, Square One Law 

• Reshma Begum, Development Manager, Federation of Small Businesses 

• Charlie Hoult, Executive Chair, Opencast 

• Charlie Charlton, Community Engagement Manager, Newcastle Helix 

North East Mayor Kim McGuinness said: 

“Our revamped Business and Economy Board will help make the North East the home of real opportunity, bringing the expertise and networks we need to help make our ambitious Local Growth Plan a reality. We have a strong and compelling offer to government and investors, and the new make-up of the Board will play a vital role in helping us attract jobs and investment and promoting the North East on the national and international stage.” 

John McCabe, Chief Executive of the North East Chamber of Commerce and Chair of the Board, said: 

“This is a crucial time for the North East and we're building the foundations to help our economy grow. The Business and Economy Board will bring a strong business voice and expertise into the Combined Authority's work and will form a powerful partnership to help deliver the Local Growth Plan. I'm delighted to welcome new members to the Board: we will harness our expertise and passion to tell a positive story about the North East and the potential of our people and businesses.” 

The Business and Economy Board will support the Mayor and Cabinet's Local Growth Plan, providing guidance on how best to deliver its five missions: 

1. Home to a growing and vibrant economy for all 

2. Home of the green energy revolution 

3. A welcoming home to global trade 

4. Home of real opportunity 

5. A North East we are proud to call home 

The Business and Economy Board will be supported by five sub-groups mirroring these missions and enabling more senior leaders and industry experts to play their part in delivering the Local Growth Plan. 

The new appointments join the existing members of the Board: 

• Emily Cox, Group Ambassador for the North and Head of Colleague Relations & Policy at Lloyds Banking Group 

• Colin Hewitt, Senior Partner at Ward Hadaway 

• Ammar Mirza CBE, Managing Director at AmmarM Ltd 

• Heidi Mottram CBE, Northumbrian Water CEO 

• Phil Redman, Mott MacDonald Area Director 

• Mark Thompson, Managing Partner at Ryder Architecture 

• Ellen Thinnesen, Education Partnership North East Chief Executive 

• Sam Whitehouse, High Force Research & LightOx Ltd CEO