New role for port of Tyne CEO

The port chief executive is one of four business leaders newly appointed to the board of the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) .

He joins Northumbria Water chief executive Heidi Mottram; Farooq Hakim, North East regional director for BT, and Mark Thompson, managing partner of Ryder Architecture, in replacing out-going board members Paul Woolston, Gill Southern, Arnab Basu and Michael Bellamy.

LEP chairman Andrew Hodgson said: "We have been able to appoint four outstanding business leaders to help oversee the strategic direction of the LEP at a crucial time in its evolution.

"“Their industry experience will be invaluable in helping us deliver the aims set out in the Strategic Economic Plan, as is the passion Heidi, Andrew, Farooq and Mark all have for the North East and its economic future.

"We are fortunate to be able to welcome them onto the LEP board, having four outstanding business leaders to replace the exceptional businesspeople who recently left our board.

"I would like to thank Gill Southern, Michael Bellamy, Arnab Basu and Paul Woolston for the expertise they brought to the board and their sheer dedication in ensuring the LEP best supported North East business in everything it did."

Andrew Moffat has been CEO of the Port of Tyne for seven years, during which time the business has achieved growth and cultural change, winning the North East Business of the Year title in 2014 and recently awarded the status of Investors in People Champion.

The port makes a major contribution to the economy of the region, adding more than £700million to the Gross Value Added of the North East and directly and indirectly supporting almost 1,500 jobs.

"It will be a privilege to be part of the LEP Board, and help build upon the work that has been done to support the delivery of the strategic plan for the North East," said Mr Moffat.

"I look forward to working with the Board and all of the LEP partners to help take advantage of the existing and forthcoming opportunities for economic growth, bringing investment and jobs for the region."

Farooq is part of the BT leadership team with 20 years’ involvement in the delivery of complex business transformation programmes, holding a number of senior roles within BT.

"I am delighted to be joining the North East LEP to help achieve strong economic growth for our region." he said.

Mark Thompson is managing partner of Ryder Architecture, where he is responsible for the strategic development of the highly successful design company with offices across the UK and a growing international portfolio from its recently established Hong Kong office.

“I’m delighted to join the North East LEP board at this exciting time. With Devolution at the fore this could be a defining period for the future prosperity of the region” said Mark.